UPSC Articles
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
Part of: Prelims and GS-II – Statutory bodies; Indian Polity
Context The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Jammu and Kashmir Government and the police over the recent spate of targeted killings of civilians from minority communities of Kashmiri Pandits.
What is National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)?
- NHRC was established in 1993.
- It is in conformity with the Paris Principles, adopted at the first international workshop on national institutions for the protection of human rights held in Paris in 1991.
- Status: It is a statutory organization established under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993
- Headquarters: New Delhi.
- Functions:
- To investigate the violation of human rights/ the failures of the states/other to prevent a human rights violation
- Research about human rights, create awareness campaigns through various mediums, and encourage the work of NGOs.
- Composition:
- Chairperson, four full-time Members and four deemed Members.
- A Chairperson, should be retired Chief Justice of India or a Judge of the Supreme Court.
- Appointment: The Chairperson and members of the NHRC are appointed by the President of India, on the recommendation of a committee consisting of:
- The Prime Minister (Chairperson)
- The Home Minister
- The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha
- The Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha
- The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
- The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
- They hold office for a term of three years or until they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
- The President can remove them from the office under specific circumstances.
