Write a short note on the National Human Rights Commission.
Answer:
- NHRC is an independent commission set up by the law in 1993.
- Like the Judiciary, the commission is independent of the government.
- The commission is appointed by the President and includes retired judges, officers and eminent citizens.
- It does not bear the burden of deciding cases. So it can focus on helping the victims secure their human rights.
- These include all the rights granted to the citizens by the constitution.
- The NHRC cannot punish the guilty. That is the responsibility of the courts.
- Like any court, it can summon witnesses, question any government official, demand any official paper, visit any prison for inspection or send its own team for on-the-spot inquiry.