Centre Updates National Human Rights Commission Powers and Functioning
- ByAdmin --
- 28 May 2025 --
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The Central Government has recently implemented key updates to the powers and functioning of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). These changes aim to enhance the Commission’s autonomy, efficiency, and effectiveness in upholding human rights in India.
The NHRC, set up under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, has long been regarded as India’s principal institution for the promotion and protection of human rights. However, civil society and human rights experts have often criticized its limited powers and procedural delays. The new updates seek to address some of these concerns.
Key Reforms Introduced
The latest government notification brings the following critical changes:
- Wider Investigation Powers: The NHRC can now direct suo motu investigations in a broader range of human rights violations, including digital privacy breaches and custodial deaths.
- Time-Bound Complaint Resolution: All human rights complaints received by the Commission must now be acted upon within 45 days, ensuring timely redressal and eliminating pendency.
- Expanded Composition: The Commission may now include members from civil society, former bureaucrats, and domain experts in law, gender, disability, and child rights for more balanced representation.
- Increased Autonomy in Appointments: The NHRC’s power to select investigative officers and domain specialists has been widened, minimizing political interference.
- Online Hearing and Complaint Mechanism: Victims can now file complaints through a revamped digital platform, and preliminary hearings can be conducted online for speed and accessibility.
Background & Need for Reforms
Over the years, the NHRC has handled thousands of complaints, including those involving custodial violence, bonded labor, child trafficking, and police excesses. However, a lack of binding authority, limited jurisdiction over the armed forces, and delays in case handling had significantly reduced its impact.
Repeated observations from international human rights bodies and recommendations from Indian parliamentary committees also highlighted the need to modernize the NHRC’s framework to make it more responsive and rights-focused.
Major Structural Improvements
To support its revised mandate, the following administrative upgrades were also announced:
- Dedicated Human Rights Research Wing: To analyze trends, case studies, and international practices for better policymaking.
- State Human Rights Commission Coordination Cell: To ensure uniform standards and support across state-level human rights commissions.
- Annual Compliance Report Mechanism: NHRC will now publish a report on how government departments comply with its recommendations, enhancing accountability.
Strengthening Legal and Judicial Interface
To ensure that NHRC's work aligns with legal remedies:
- Stronger Coordination with Judiciary: The NHRC will collaborate with the National Judicial Academy to train judges on emerging human rights issues.
- Follow-Up Mechanism for Court Orders: A dedicated cell will track compliance with Supreme Court and High Court orders related to NHRC recommendations.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the improvements, some limitations remain:
- The Commission’s recommendations are still not legally binding, meaning enforcement depends on political will.
- The lack of punitive powers may continue to limit deterrence in human rights violations.
- Concerns over adequate funding and resource constraints persist, especially at the state level.
Significance of the Move
These updates signal a renewed commitment to human rights in India. They seek to:
- Restore public confidence in the NHRC’s ability to protect victims
- Modernize systems to deal with digital-age violations such as online harassment, privacy breaches, and AI-driven discrimination.
- Increase the visibility and outreach of human rights redressal mechanisms.
Conclusion
The Centre’s decision to expand the powers and streamline the functioning of the NHRC is a timely step toward strengthening India’s human rights architecture. While more reforms—especially those granting binding powers—are needed, the changes represent a concrete attempt to make human rights protection more proactive, inclusive, and technology-friendly.
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