On the occasion of the Republic Day, 2014, Shri K. Harischandra Rao, Dy. S.P., NHRC got the President's Medal for Distinguished Services. Shri Rao joined the Investigation Division of the NHRC in 1995 and has been instrumental in various investigations done by the Commission on issues of human rights violations. These include enquiries relating to police atrocities in Naxal affected areas of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha. The Commission had also sent him to Australia and Thailand to further hone up his investigation skills.
Prior to joining the NHRC, DSP Rao was in the elite Special Protection Group as an officer of the BSF. He was specially deputed to perform the duties of Main Personal Security Officer to the three Prime Ministers of India.