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(d) review the safeguards provided by or under the Constitution or any law
for the time being in force for the protection of human rights and recommend
measures for their effective implementation;
(e) review the factors, including acts of terrorism, that inhibit the enjoyment
of human rights and recommend appropriate remedial measures;
(f) study treaties and other international instruments on human rights and make
recommendations for their effective implementation;
(g) undertake and promote research in the field of human rights;
(h) spread human rights literacy among various sections of society and promote
awareness of the safeguards available for the protection of these rights
through publications, the media, seminars and other available means;
(i) encourage the efforts of non-governmental organizations and institutions
working in the field of human rights;
(j) such other functions as it may consider necessary for the promotion of
human rights.
13. Powers relating to inquiries.-(1) The Commission shall, while inquiring
into complaints under this Act, have all the powers of a Civil Court trying a suit
under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 and in particular in respect of the following
matters, namely:(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining
them on oath;
(b) discovery and production of any document;
(c) receiving evidence on affidavits;
(d) requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any Court or office;
(e) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents;
(f) any other matter which may be prescribed.
(2) The Commission shall have power to require any person, subject to any
privilege which may be claimed by that person under any law for the time being
in force, to furnish information on such points or matters as, in the opinion of the
Commission, may be useful for, or relevant to, the subject matter of the inquiry
and any person so required shall be deemed to be legally bound to furnish such
information within the meaning of section 176 and section 177 of the Indian Penal
Code.
(3) The Commission or any other officer, not below the rank of a Gazetted
Officer, specially authorized in this behalf by the Commission may enter any building
or place where the Commission has reason to believe that any document relating
to the subject-matter of the inquiry may be found, and may seize any such document
or take extracts or copies therefrom subject to the provisions of section 100 of the
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, insofar as it may be applicable.
(4) The Commission shall be deemed to be a Civil Court and when any offence
as is described in section 175, section 178, section 179, section 180 or section 228
of the Indian Penal Code is committed in the view or presence of the Commission,
the Commission may, after recording the facts constituting the offence and the
statement of the accused as provided for in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973,
forward the case to a Magistrate having jurisdiction to try the same and the Magistrate
to whom any such case is forwarded shall proceed to hear the complaint against
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