Thirteen Years of NHRC

The National Human Rights Commission completed thirteen years of its existence on October 12, 2006. Under the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993. the Commission came into being on this day in 1993.
Over these years the Commission has endeavored to give a positive meaning and content to the objectives set out in the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 for better protection of human rights. During this period the Commission has worked vigorously and effectively to create awareness and sensitizing public authorities for promoting and protecting human rights in the country.
Consistent with its mandate, the Commission has been taking up issues of human rights violation that are of significance, either suo-motu, or when brought to its notice by the civil society, the media, concerned citizens or expert advisers. The primary focus of the Commission has been on strengthening and extension of human rights to all sections of the society. The vulnerable groups and weaker sections of the society, particularly, are guarded by the Commission against violation of human rights.
The Commission's purview covers the entire range of civil and political, as well as economic, social and cultural rights. The issues emerging from terrorism and insurgency, custodial death, rape and torture, reform of the police, prison conditions, and other institutions such as juvenile homes, mental hospitals and shelters for women, along with the issues of health care and exploitation of children and their education have assumed special focus and attention. Basic needs such as drinking water, food and nutrition, and equity and justice to the less privileged, namely the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the prevention of atrocities perpetrated against them also form a part of Commission's work. Rights of the disabled, access to public services by disabled, displacement of population and especially of tribals by mega projects, food scarcity and allegation of death by starvation, rights of the child, rights of women subjected to violence, sexual harassment and discrimination, and rights of minorities, have been the focus of the Commission's action on numerous occasions.
The Commission has taken up the cause of relief and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants, provision of relief to the citizens who became the victims of devastating tsunami, cyclone and earthquake in certain parts of the country during the past.
Since inception, the Commission has directed that interim relief to the extent of Rs. 10,47,58,643/- be paid in 707 cases. It has also recommended, in a significant number of cases disciplinary action and prosecution against the public servants who were prima-facie found responsible for their acts of omission or commission resulting in violations of human rights of the people.
The Commission, which began with a minimal strength of 44 in 1993, now has a sanctioned strength of 343 officers and staff.
Justice Shri Ranganath Misra was the first Chairperson of the Commission and was followed by Justice Shri M.N.Venkatachaliah and Justice Shri J.S.Verma. The present Chairperson Dr. Justice A.S.Anand joined the Commission in February-2003.