The pre-eminent role that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights played in igniting the flare of ‘humanity’ and ‘human rights’, in conjunction with every facet that fell under its ambit, found its way to kindle the same spirit in India, in 1993. The United Nations, in 1991, established key principles to form a concrete base for Human Rights’ institutions, to further the interest and ensure uniformity in its execution. In pursuance of the same, it concluded the Paris Principles on Human Rights, which led to the birth of the ‘Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993’ [‘Act’] in India. In accordance with Section 3 of the said Act, the State is obliged to form a ‘National Human Rights Commission’ [‘NHRC’] to ensure accurate protection, representation, and furtherance of Human Rights in our nation.
The NHRC, alias, the ‘watchdog of human rights’, is considered to protect the rights of the people enshrined in the constitution, in addition to those rights assumed to be inherently available to them, for being human. The Commission was established on 12th October 1993 and sits at its headquarters, in New Delhi, India. For 27 years it has served the needs of the people of India, to protect the ‘rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants.’
The NHRC, as stated above, avails its functions, composition, powers, and authority from the Act of 1993. The constituting body in the NHRC is expressed under Section 3 (2) to Section 3 (4) of the Act.
| Sr. No. | Compositional Break-down | Pre-requisites and Eligibility | Term of Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 1 [One] Chairperson | Has been the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India | Term of 5 [Five] years, or till the date he attains 70 [Seventy] years of age; whichever is earlier. |
| 2. | 1 [One] Member | Is or has been a Judge of the Supreme Court | Term of 5 [Five] years, eligible to re-term for another 5 [Five] years. |
| 3. | 1 [One] Member | Is or has been the Chief Justice of a High Court in India | Term of 5 [Five] years, eligible to re-term for another 5 [Five] years. |
| 4. | 2 [Two] Members | Persons having knowledge of practical experience in handling matters of human rights | Term of 5 [Five] years, eligible to re-term for another 5 [Five] years. |
| 5. | 4 [Four] Members | Chairpersons of-
|
Term of 5 [Five] years, eligible to re-term for another 5 [Five] years. |
| 6. | 1 [One] Secretary-General/ Chief Executive Officer | As appointed by the Centre/State |
