PYQ Vault · Paper 1 · Statutory & Constitutional Bodies
Examine the objective and role of the National Human Rights Commission.
How the answer moves
The flow snapshot — the routes in, the body, the counter-view and the routes out.
Flow snapshot — how the answer moves
Intro routes
rR! NHRC under PHRA 1993 → Bhatia's "fourth branch institution" (makes democracy workable) → objective = protect/promote life, liberty, equality, dignity (Constitution + covenants, enforceable in courts) R2 Mandela's moral framing on denying rights → rights as life/liberty/equality/dignity → NHRC as their statutory guardian under PHRA 1993
Body flow
objective shapes role → Section 12 inquiry (petitions / suo motu / court direction) + negligence of public servants → prison visits, court intervention, review of safeguards, research, rights literacy → reach to vulnerable groups (women, children, SC/ST, minorities, refugees, prisoners) → Dayal: strengthened democracy
Counter-view
recommendatory design caps reach → non-binding, govt dependence, one-year bar, armed-forces restriction → Krishna Iyer "biggest post office" / Baxi "toothless tiger", "grammar of governance"
Conclusion routes
Rk! objective sound, institution necessary → role serves it fully only with enforceable powers + independent cadre + plural composition R2 move from "post office"/critique to Verma's "conscience keeper of the nation" → empowerment, not abolition, is the corrective
Model answer
Handwritten, in the form it would be written in the examination hall.
