सव
भव तु सिखनः
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Chapter 1
Introduction
1.1
1.2
1.3
The NHRC India was established by an Act of
Parliament on 12 October, 1993, as amended in
September 2006 and July 2019, known as the
Protec on of Human Rights Act, 1993 (PHRA). This
Act is aimed at giving 'be er protec on and
promo on of human rights'. It is an ins tu on
which acts as a complement to the judiciary and is
engaged in — the protec on and promo on of
cons tu onally enumerated fundamental human
rights of all people in the country.
As per the Act, 'human rights' means the 'rights
rela ng to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the
individual guaranteed by the Cons tu on or
embodied in the Interna onal Covenants and
enforceable by courts in India'. Interna onal
Covenants include the Interna onal Covenant on
Civil and Poli cal Rights (ICCPR), the Interna onal
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
(ICESCR), the Conven on on Elimina on of All
Forms of Discrimina on against Women (CEDAW),
the Conven on on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and
the Conven on on the Elimina on of all Forms of
Racial Discrimina on (CERD). The Government of
India acceded to the ICCPR and ICESER in 1979. It
ra fied the CEDAW in 1993, the CRC in 1991 and the
CERD in 1968. Many of the rights as referred to in
the ICCPR and the ICESCR were available to Indian
ci zens when India became independent. These
rights are primarily reflected in Part III and Part IV of
the Cons tu on under the broad heading of
Fundamental Rights and Direc ve Principles of
State Policy.
Unques onably, the greatest strength of the PHRA
is to provide the Commission with independence,
func onal autonomy and broad mandate, which are
essen al to the composi on and proper func oning
of a Na onal Human Rights Ins tu ons (NHRIs)
conforming with the Paris Principles. NHRC-India is
Chapter 1 - Introduction
an embodiment of India's concern for the promoon and protec on of human rights.
1.4
The experience of NHRC-India, ever since it came
into existence, has shown that its independence
and strength is well guaranteed by the requirements of the statute rela ng to its composi on,
appointments procedure, and powers rela ng to
inquiries, extensive range of func ons and
specialized divisions and staff.
1.5
This report covers the period from 01 April 2022 to
31 March 2023. It is the thir eth Annual Report of
the Commission. This report presents comprehensive details of the ini a ves/ ac vi es undertaken
by the Commission to ensure be er protec on and
promo on of human rights.
1.6
During the period of report, Jus ce Shri Arun Mishra
con nued to serve as the Chairperson in the
Commission. Smt. Jyo ka Kalra has been Member in
the Commission and demi ed the office on 04 April
2022; Jus ce Shri M. M. Kumar was the Member in
the Commission and demi ed the office on 04
January 2023; Dr. D. M. Mulay and Shri Rajiv Jain
con nued to serve as Members of the Commission.
1.7
Shri Devendra Kumar Singh assumed charge as
Secretary General of NHRC on 02 May 2022. Shri
Santosh Mehra, Director General (Inves ga on)
demi ed the office on 12 July 2022 on transfer to his
parent cadre and Shri Manoj Yadava assumed
charge as Director General (Inves ga on) of NHRC
on 12 July 2022. Smt. Anita Sinha con nued to serve
as Joint Secretary in the Commission. Shri Devendra
Kumar Nim assumed charge as Joint Secretary on 15
February 2023.
1.8
As provided in Sec on 3(3) of the PHRA (1993), Smt.
Rekha Sharma, Chairperson of the Na onal
Commission for Women, Dr. Bhagwan Lal Sahni,
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