Functions and Powers of NHRC

NHRC investigates grievances

petition.
regarding the violation of human rights either
suo moto or after
Ithas the
power to interfere in any receiving a
judicial proceedings involving any
rights.
visit any jail or any other
allegation of violation of human
It can insstitution
under the control of the State
conditions ofthe inmates and to make Government to see the living
It can
review the safeguards provided under therecommendations
thereon.
and can recommend appropriate remedial measures.constitution or any law for the protection of the human rights
, NHRC undertakes and promotes research in the field of human rights.
uDC works to spread human rights literacy among various sections of
nroness of the safeguards available for the protection of these rights throughsociety and promotes
publications, media,
seminars and other means.
,The Commission takes an independent stand while providing opinions for the protection of human rights
within the parlance of the Constitution or in law for the time being enforced.
It has the powers of a civil court and can grant interim relief.
It also has the authority to recommend payment of compensation or damages.
the trust reposed in
.NHRC credibility is duly reflected in large number of complaints received every year and
it by the citizens. violation
state governments to take suitable steps to prevent the
Itcan recommend to both the central and laid before each
Human Rights. It submits its annual report to the President of India who causes it to be
of
House of Parliament.

Limitations of NHRC asks the concerned

Central
investigation. In majority cases, it
NHRC does not have any mechanism of Rights
cases of the violation of Human Attorney-Generalof india) due
investigate the
aiu State Governments to by Soli Sorabjee(former
illusion'
"Ithas been termed as 'India's teasing aggrieved party. decisions.
to its incapacity to render anypractical relieftothe enforce bureaucrats with political
recommendations, withoutthe powerto judges and
" NHRC can only make for
post-retirement destinations
Many times NHRC is viewed as funds also hamper its working. the complaintregistered
investigate
inadequacy of unaddressed because NHRC cannot
affliation moreover,
Alarge number of grievances go partial
complianceto these
or there is
NHRC
after One year of incident. recommendation of means
government, whichNational
rejects
the national national control.
Government often out rightly informationfrom
forces under armedforces have
been
recommendat
State human ions.
cannot call for
rights commissionsthe power to
investigate armed
human rights by the
that they violations of
are implicitly deniedpowers
relatedto
Human Rights Commission
largely restricted. watchdogof
human
truly a
effective and is

ggestThereightioviolations
is
ns in the country.
need for complete
revamping of
NHRCto

governmentif
make it more

commission
made
enforceable. There
decisionsare societyand
membersfrom
civil
activists.

including
NHRC efcacy ca can be enhanced by
commission by
nad to change in composition of
 NHRC needs to an
Many lawS in independent
India are very old and cadre of staff with
archaic in appropriate
transparency in regulations.
Toimprove and strengthen the
nature by
amending which experience.
government can bring more
tandem. human rights situation in India,
state and non state actors
need to work in