Transparency in governance is a pre requisite to the protection of human rights. Right to Information Act passed by Parliament in 2005 has evolved as an important tool to bring more transparency in the functioning of Government and public bodies. In this backdrop the Commission organized a two day National Seminar on "Right to Information, Human Rights: The Present Scenario" on 21st and 22nd May, 2009. Addressing the inaugural session, the Chief Guest and former Chief Justice of India, Mr. Justice R.C. Lahoti appreciated NHRC's commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights and said that it was also in tune with the United Nations initiatives in this direction. It was, however, ironical that in a democracy large numbers of complaints of human rights violations are received against public authorities who are supposed to be the protectors of their rights. Justice Lahoti added that discussions on principles and laws alone would not achieve the goal of protecting human rights unless the people in the system of governance are sensitive towards them. Chairing the Session, NHRC Member, Mr. Justice G.P. Mathur said that the Commission is committed to bring awareness about human rights and gives encouragement to the writings on these issues. He said that despite India making a late beginning in the enactment of the Right to Information, it had given a strong and effective tool into the hands of common man to ensure good governance. Justice Mathur underscored the need to provide knowledge to the people about their rights and process involved in seeking enforcement thereof, in common man's language and mentioned that the Commission has brought out several publications on human rights related issues in Hindi.
Eleven Hindi writers were awarded on the occasion for their creative writings or translation of books in Hindi on human rights related issues during 2006-2007.
Secretary General NHRC, Mr. A.K. Jain informed that this year the Commission has decided to enlarge the scope of the scheme by introducing awards for creative writing and translation of books on human rights issues in all Indian languages included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and English. The Commission started the scheme of honouring writers for their creative writing or translation of books in Hindi on human rights related issues in the year1998.

Several prominent persons including Senior Journalist, Mr. Prabhash Joshi, Professor Namvar Singh, Jyananpeeth Awardee writer Mr. Kunwar Narayan, Members and officers of the Commission addressed different sessions which included two Academic Sessions focusing on the genesis of the Right to Information Act in the country and the people's movement for this right.