National Human Rights Commission (NHRC): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is an independent government agency in India tasked with defending and promoting human rights. With additional revisions in 2006, it was established as a statutory body in conformity with the Indian Constitution under the “Protection of Human Rights Act” of 1993.
After an amendment to the PHRC in 2019, the organizational structure of the NHRC comprises of following members with the required qualifications-
Members | Appointment criteria |
A Chairperson | Who has been Chief Justice of India or a Judge of the Supreme Court (added after an amendment in 2019) |
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 |
Three members (of which one must be women) | To be appointed from among persons having knowledge of, or practical experience in, matters relating to human rights
|
Deemed/ex-officio members
| Chairpersons of the following bodies- · National Commission for Scheduled Castes; · National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, National Commission for Minorities; · National Commission for Women; · National Commission for Backward Classes; · National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights and · Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities |
Appointment of the members: President appoints the Chairman and members of NHRC on the recommendation of the high-powered committee headed by the Prime Minister. The composition of this high-powered committee includes-
India grapples with significant human rights violations for various reasons. To address these concerns, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) plays a pivotal role by taking up numerous issues across the country. Some of these pressing concerns include:
Human Rights Issues | Examples of Concerns |
---|---|
Arbitrary arrest & detention | Individuals detained without proper legal procedures. |
Custodial torture | Physical and psychological abuse of detainees in custody. |
Child labor | The exploitation of children in hazardous and illegal work. |
Violence against women & children | Domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. |
Extrajudicial killings | Unlawful killings by law enforcement or state authorities. |
Excessive powers | Abuse of power by authorities leads to human rights abuses. |
Sexual violence & abuse | Sexual harassment, assault, and abuse against individuals. |
LGBTQ community rights | Discrimination and violations of rights based on gender identity and sexual orientation. |
SC/ST, disabled, & religious minority issues | Discrimination and marginalization based on caste, disability, or religion. |
Labor rights & right to work | Violation of workers’ rights and denial of fair employment opportunities. |
Conflict-induced internal displacement | Forced displacement of people due to conflicts or violence. |
Manual scavenging | The inhumane practice of cleaning human waste manually. |
The topic of ‘Human Rights’ holds significant global importance, and it is often featured in UPSC Prelims and Mains examinations. For instance, in the UPSC Mains GS-II 2018, a question was asked about the challenges posed by the multiplicity of various commissions for vulnerable sections of society and whether merging them into an umbrella Human Rights Commission would be a better approach.
Similarly, in 2014 and 2015, UPSC Mains GS-II questions were based on the National Human Rights Commission, highlighting its relevance and significance in the examination. Thus, understanding human rights and related issues is crucial for aspirants preparing for the UPSC Mains Examination.
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The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is an independent government agency in India tasked with promoting and safeguarding human rights. It was established as a statutory body in 1993 under the "Protection of Human Rights Act" and later amended in 2006.
The NHRC is responsible for the protection and promotion of human rights in India. It defines human rights as the rights relating to life, liberty, equality, and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants and enforceable by courts in India.
The NHRC consists of a Chairperson, 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, and three members (including one woman) with knowledge or practical experience in human rights matters. It also includes ex-officio members from various national commissions.
The President appoints the Chairman and members of the NHRC on the recommendation of a high-powered committee headed by the Prime Minister. The committee includes the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, the Leaders of the Opposition in both Houses of Parliament, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
The Chairperson and Members of the NHRC hold office for three years or until they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier. They are also eligible for re-appointment.
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