INTRODUCTION

This submission is concerned with various aspects of the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993 (the 1993
Act) made in response to the invitation put out by the high level Advisory Committee headed by the
former Chief Justice of India, Justice A.M. Ahmadi and created to review the 1993 Act and recommend
appropriate changes to it to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). CHRI commends the NHRC
for establishing the Committee and wishes to express its support for the inclusive and transparent
manner in which the Committee is fulfilling its mandate. CHRI recognizes the establishment of human
rights commissions in India at both the national and state level as part of an international move by
countries towards a more pro-active role in the protection of human rights. This trend has been
welcomed and supported by CHRI because it is much easier to implement and enforce human rights at
the local level. Indian commissions not only play an important role in the promotion and protection of
human rights and freedoms in India but they are potential role-models and standards setters for other
countries that may be considering the establishment of their own institutions. It is with this in mind that
CHRI wishes to make the following submissions to the Advisory Committee.
DEFINITION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Dr. justice Durga Das Basu defines human rights are those minimal rights which every individual must
have against the state or other public authority, by virtue of his being a member of human family
irrespective of any consideration.