NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, INDIA also send a message to all concerned – complainants, public servants, etc. The Commission orders a Spot enquiry in a range of cases concerning a variety of public authorities – from illegal detention, extra judicial killing, etc. by the police to the lack of facilitites in a hospital leading to unnatural deaths. Spot enquiries enhance the confidence of general public too and instill their faith in NHRC’s role in protection of Human Rights. The Investigation Division also gives its comments / observations, whenever sought, in the cases of advice / analysis, besides monitoring cases whenever referred to it. (b) Custodial Deaths: As per the guidelines issued by the Commission to the State authorities, the latter are supposed to intimate the Commission in case of any death occurring in custody (whether in police or judicial custody) within 24 hours. The Investigation Division on receiving of such intimations analyzes the reports in order to find out if there was any human rights violation involved. In order to make the analysis more professional and accurate, Investigation Division seeks opinion from the forensic experts on the panel of NHRC. (c) Deaths in course of Police firing /encounters: The Commission has laid down detailed guidelines for such cases in which people /criminals/extremists get killed during during a police action such as firing. The matter is mandatorily to be reported to the Commission within 48 hours followed by detailed report, PM reports, status of investigation by an independent agency, Ballistics report, magisterial enquiry reports, etc. The investigation division is entrusted with the work of analysis of such incidents and brings out the fallacies/ anamolies, if any, and put them before the Commission. (d) Fact Finding Cases: The Investigation Division also calls upon the different authorities to submit reports in “Fact Finding” Cases as directed by the Commission. The Investigation Division critically analyzes these reports with a view to assist the Commission in deciding whether there is any violation of Human Rights or not. In cases where reports received are misleading or not factual, the Commission orders a spot enquiry as well. (e) Training: The officers of the Investigation Division deliver lectures in training institutes and other forums, wherever they are invited to spread human rights literacy and promote awareness of the safeguards available for the protection of the human rights. (f ) Rapid Action Cell: From the year 2007, the Investigation Division has taken the initiative of making a Rapid Action Cell functional in the Commission. Under RAC cases, the Investigation Division deals with cases which are of a very urgent nature e.g. the allegation may be regarding child marriage likely to be performed the very next day or else the complainant fears that a relative or friend picked up by the police may be killed in a false encounter. In all such cases, the Investigation Division takes up the urgent follow up required by the Commission. It may require speaking to them personally over telephone to ascertain facts, faxing the complaint to various authorities for reference and asking them to send their replies expeditiously – all these actions are performed by the Investigation Division. ANNUAL REPORT 2018-19 31