NHRC (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

News-CRUX-10     7th December 2023        

Context: The Manipur government recently announced its intention to submit a comprehensive report to the National Human Rights Commission in the coming weeks, detailing the recent efforts undertaken by the administration to "de-escalate the violent situation in the state and return to normalcy."

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

  • About: It is an independent statutory body in 1993 under the provisions of Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, later amended in 2006. 
  • Headquarters: New Delhi.
  • Composition: One Chairperson, five full-time Members and seven deemed Members.

oA person who has been the Chief Justice of India or a judge of the Supreme Court can become a chairman.

  • Appointment:  Appointed by the President on the recommendations of a 6 member committee consisting of the Prime Minister.
  • Tenure: 3 years or until they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
  • Removal: On the charges of proved misbehavior or incapacity, if proved by an inquiry conducted by a Supreme Court Judge.
  • Function: It is the watchdog of human rights in the country, that is, the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the international covenants2 and enforceable by courts in India.