New Delhi, October 12th, 2012

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC is celebrating its 20th Foundation Day today on the 12th October, 2012. It was on this day in 1993, the NHRC was set up under the Protection of Human Rights Act passed by Parliament. Since its inception, the Commission has registered more than 11.50 lakhs cases of human rights violations, either suo motu or on complaints or on intimation by the prison and police authorities.



During 1st October, 2011 to 30th September, 2012, a total number of 94,985 fresh cases were registered in the Commission. Maximum (46187) cases were registered from Uttar Pradesh followed by Delhi (7988) and Haryana (6921).



In the same period, the Commission took suo motu cognizance in 44 cases. Besides this, the Commission has also taken cognizance of a number of human rights violations on the basis of news reports forwarded by, among others, human rights activists/NGOs.



During the 1st October, 2011 to 30th September, 2012, a total of Rs. 14,63,06,000/- were recommended by the Commission in 462 cases as monetary relief for the victims of human rights violation or their next of kin. This is in addition to recommending punitive action against the public servants wherein it was found that they had either violated human rights or been negligent in protecting them. Out of this, 143 cases were disposed of where compliance reports towards payment of Rs. 3,03,16,000/- as monetary relief were received and in rest of the cases the compliance reports are awaited.



During the period, the Commission registered 1834 cases on death in judicial custody, i.e., in prisons. These included 1,481 cases registered on the basis of intimation received from prison authorities and 353 cases registered on the basis of complaints alleging death in judicial custody. In this category, the maximum cases (433) were from Uttar Pradesh followed by Punjab (161) and Bihar (160).



During the period, the Commission registered 446 cases in the category of death in police custody. These included 138 cases registered on the basis of intimation received from the concerned police authorities and 308 cases registered on the basis of complaints received alleging death in police custody.



The Commission registered 379 cases in the category of death in encounter by police. These included 152 cases registered on the basis of intimation received from the concerned police authorities about the death in encounter and 227 cases registered on the basis of complaints alleging fake encounter by police.



The NHRC has also given its views on a number of draft bills in addition to guidelines and recommendations on various issues of human rights. During the period, it started organizing 'Open Hearing' of complaints of atrocities against Scheduled Castes in different States and has visited so far Odisha, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan in this connection, in addition to organizing Camp Sittings in Assam and Meghalaya.



To spread awareness about human rights and its activities, the Commission, apart from publication of monthly newsletters in English and Hindi, has published more than 40 books and journals on human rights issues, besides holding workshops and seminars.



It has made a number of interventions on key issues of human rights which include, among others, right to health, rights of persons with disability, issues of bonded and child labour, prison reforms, mental health care, silicosis etc.



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