NHRC notice on Hirakud Dam

 About National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

•  Introduction: NHRC is a statutory body, constituted under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, to protect and promote human rights related to life, liberty, equality and dignity of individuals
• Composition:NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) consists of:
  • Chairperson, should be retired Chief Justice of India.
  • One Member who is, or has been, a Judge of the Supreme Court of India
  • One Member who is, or has been, the Chief Justice of a High Court.
  • Two Members to be appointed from among persons having knowledge of, or practical experience in, matters relating to human rights.
  • In addition, the Chairpersons of four National Commissions of (Minorities, SC and ST, Women) serve as ex officio members.
• Tenure: The chairman and members hold office for a term of three years or until they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
  • The President can remove the chairman or any member from the office under some circumstances.
• Functions: The functions of the Commission as stated in Section 12 of the Act, it enquires into complaints of violation of human rights or negligence in the prevention of such violation by a public servant.
  • It studies treaties and international instruments on human rights and makes recommendations for their effective implementation to the Government.
  • The Commission is responsible for spreading human rights awareness amongst the masses and encouraging the efforts of all stakeholders in the field of human rights literacy not only at the national level but at international level too.
• Powers: The Commission shall have all the powers of a civil court trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, and in particular the following, namely;
  •  Summoning and enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them on oath;
  •  discovery and production of any document;
  •  receiving evidence on affidavits;
  •  requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office;
  •  issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents;
  •  any other matter which may be prescribed.
  • Issues: It only has recommendatory powers with no penal provisions for its non-implementation.
    • Its annual report is not timely laid in parliament.
    • Lack of adequate manpower.
    • It can’t investigate a case after 1 year of its occurrence.
    • Pending cases & gender diversity.