Context:

Recently, the President of India appointed former Supreme Court judge V. Ramasubramanian as the 9th Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for a three-year term.

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In addition to Justice Ramasubramanian, Priyank Kanoongo, and retired Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi were also appointed as NHRC Members.

The position of NHRC Chairperson has been vacant since June 1, 2024, when Justice Arun Mishra completed his term. 

• Since then, Acting Chairperson Vijaya Bharati Sayani has been overseeing the Commission.
• Following Justice Mishra, Justice Ramasubramanian will now be the second NHRC chairperson to have never served as Chief Justice of India.

A high-powered committee, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recommended the appointment of Justice Ramasubramanian as the Chairman of the NHRC, but both Leaders of the Opposition (LoPs) expressed dissent.

About the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

It was established on 12 October 1993 as a statutory organisation under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993, which was amended by the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2006, to protect and promote human rights in India.

• According to Section 2(1)(d) of the PHRA, Human Rights are the rights relating to life, liberty, equality, and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants and enforceable by courts in India.

The NHRC's establishment aligns with the Paris Principles, which were adopted during an international workshop in Paris in October 1991 and endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 December 1993.

It embodies India's commitment to promoting and protecting human rights while functioning as a watchdog to ensure accountability and adherence to human rights standards.

Composition: 

• The Commission comprises a chairperson, five full-time Members, and seven deemed Members. 
• The chairperson and members of the NHRC are appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of a committee consisting of:

1. Prime Minister (Chairperson)

2. Speaker of Lok Sabha

3. Home minister

4. Leader of the opposition of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

5. Deputy chairmen of Rajya Sabha

Amendment of 2019: 

• The Chairperson can be either a chief justice of the Supreme Court or a judge of the Supreme Court. 
• At least one member will be a woman.
• It reduces the term of office of the Chairperson and members of the NHRC from 5 years to 3 years or until the age of seventy, which is earlier, and removes the five-year reappointment limit

Functions: 

• To inquire into human rights violations, intervene in court proceedings, visit state-controlled institutions, review and recommend changes to legal safeguards, address factors inhibiting human rights, promote research and education, support NGOs, recommend compensations, and submit an annual report to the president of India for presentation in parliament. 
• It has all the powers of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.

Accreditation: It has retained its ‘A’ Status since 1999, but for the first time, its accreditation was suspended for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024.