Q. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is the watchdog of human rights in the country. In this context, consider the following statements:
1. A person currently serving as the Chief justice of a High Court can become a member of NHRC.
2. The NHRC act mandates the commission to meet at least 3 times a year.
3. They can visit jails and detention places to study the living conditions of inmates.
4. They have all the powers of a civil court, and its proceedings have a judicial character.
How many of the above given statements are correct?
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The NHRC is a multi-member body consisting of a chairperson and five members.
- The chairperson should be a retired chief justice of India, or a judge of the Supreme Court and members should be a serving or retired judge of the Supreme court, a serving or retired chief justice of a high court and three persons (out of which at least one should be a woman) having knowledge or practical experience with respect to human rights.
- In addition to these full-time members, the commission also has seven ex-officio members–the chairpersons of the NC for Minorities, the NC for SCs, the NC for STs, the NC for Women, the NC for BCs and the NC for Protection of Child Rights and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Commission shall meet at such time and place as the Chairperson may think fit. There is no mandate that the commission should meet at least 3 times a year.
Statement 3 is correct: One of the functions of the Commission is to visit jails and detention places to study the living conditions of inmates and make recommendations thereon.
Statement 4 is correct: The NHRC is vested with the power to regulate its own procedure. It has all the powers of a civil court, and its proceedings have a judicial character. It may call for information or reports from the Central and state governments or any other authority subordinate thereto.
| Important Tips The functions of the Commission are as follows: 1. NHRC investigates grievances regarding the violation of human rights either Suo moto or after receiving a petition. 2. To visit jails and detention places to study the living conditions of inmates and make recommendations thereon. 3. To study treaties and other international instruments on human rights and make recommendations for their effective implementation. 4. To encourage the efforts of NGOs working in the field of human rights, etc. |
