National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is an important statutory body of Government of India. Recently, President of India on December 23, 2024 appointed retired Supreme Court Justice V. Ramasubramanian as the Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission. The post of NHRC chief was lying vacant since June this year.

About National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

• Stands for National Human Rights Commission.
• Statutory Body under Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993 as amended by the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2006.
• Established in 12 October 1993.
• Main Aim – To protect and safeguard human rights in India and its states.
• Current chairperson of NHRC is Retired Supreme Court Justice V. Ramasubramanian.
• Justice Ranganath Misra was the first chairperson of NHRC.
• The last chairperson of the NHRC was Justice Arun Kumar Mishra, who completed his tenure on 1 June 2024.
• NHRC works under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Functions of NHRC

1. Review the factors, including acts of terrorism that affect human rights.
2. Recommends appropriate remedial measures for human rights problems.
3. Protection of human rights in India and its states.
4. To study treaties and other international instruments on human rights.
5. Undertake and promote research in the field of human rights.
6. Engage in human rights education among various sections of society and promote and enhance awareness of the safeguards available for the protection of these rights.
7. Encourage the efforts of NGOs and institutions that works in the field of human rights voluntarily.

Structure of NHRC

NHRC consists of 1 Chairperson and 5 members full-time members and 7 deemed members.

• Chairperson who has been a Chief Justice of India or a Judge of the Supreme Court.
• Out of 5 members,
  • One member who is, or has been, a Judge of the Supreme Court of India and
  • One member who is, or has been, the Chief Justice of a High Court.
  • Three Members, out of which at least one shall be a woman to be appointed from amongst persons having knowledge of, or practical experience in, matters relating to human rights.
• 7 Deemed members can be Chairpersons of the following who serve as ex officio members –
  • National Commission for SC
  • National Commission for ST
  • National Commission for Minorities
  • National Commission for Backward Classes
  • National Commission for Women
  • National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and
  • Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.

The sitting Judge of the Supreme Court or sitting Chief Justice of any High Court can be appointed only after the consultation with the Chief Justice of India.

The members of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) can only be removed by the President of India.

S.No.	Name	Designation	Date of Assumption	Post held before joining the Commission
1	Shri Justice V. Ramasubramanian	Chairperson	30/12/2024	Judge, Supreme Court of India
2	Dr. Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi	Member	30/12/2024	Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court
3	Smt Vijaya Bharathi Sayani	Member	28/12/2023	Advocate in the Telangana High Court
4	Shri Priyank Kanoongo	Member	24/12/2024	Chairperson, NCPCR

Core Groups under NHRC are

1. Core Group on Older Persons,
2. Core Advisory Group on Environment, Climate Change & Human Rights,
3. Core Group on Human Rights Defenders and NGOs,
4. Core Advisory Group on Bonded Labour,
5. Core group on LGBTI issues,
6. Core Advisory Group on Business and Human Rights,
7. Core Group on Disabilities,
8. Core group on Health and Mental Health,
9. Core Group on Right to Food,
10. Core Group on Rights of Women,
11. Core Group of NGOs in the Commission,
12. Core Advisory Group on Criminal Justice System Reforms and
13. Core Group on Mental Health in the Commission Order.

Selection Committee

The chairperson and members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) are appointed by the President of India, on the recommendation of a committee consisting of –

1. Prime Minister (Chairman)
2. Speaker of Lok Sabha
3. Union Home Minister
4. Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha
5. Leaders of Opposition of Both Houses of the Parliament

About State Human Rights Commission (SHRC)

The State Government of India may also constitute a body known as the Human Rights Commission of that State to exercise the powers conferred upon, and to perform the functions assigned to, a State Commission. Below is the list of 25 State Human Rights Commissions formed at present –

1. Assam
2. Andhra Pradesh
3. Bihar
4. Chhattisgarh
5. Gujarat
6. Goa
7. Meghalaya
8. Himachal Pradesh
9. Kerala
10. Karnataka
11. Madhya Pradesh
12. Maharashtra
13. Manipur
14. Odisha
15. Punjab
16. Rajasthan
17. Tamil Nadu
18. Uttar Pradesh
19. West Bengal
20. Jharkhand
21. Sikkim
22. Uttarakhand
23. Haryana
24. Tripura
25. Telangana

Sources

1. News
2. Wikipedia