JUDICIAL MANDATE NCHR’s Complaint Redressal function involves a quasi-judicial role, an investigative role, and a monitoring role. This function has four types of interventions and related processes, namely: 1) 2) 3) 4) NCHR’s role as an inquiring body/court (in turn on complaint or suo moto) NCHR’s role as an intervener in on-going court proceedings NCHR’s role as an investigator into human rights violations NCHR’s role as an inspector of jails and places of detention NCHR has the powers to call witnesses, gather evidence, require furnishing of information etc. The NCHR Act provides it the opportunity to meticulously take up important human rights issues and build a substantiated and persuasive case for rights implementation. NCHR Complaint Redressal Complaint Status from 10th December, 2021 to 10th December, 2022 Sr. No. Complaints/Suo-Motu Numbers 1 No. of Complaints carried forward 1968 2 Fresh Complaints received during the period 843 3 Cases where Suo Motu action has been taken 161 Total 2972 4 No. of Complaints Disposed Off 2459 5 No. of Complaints Under Process 513 See Annex 1 for more details on complaints and suo moto actions. Launch of Complaint Cell for Female Journalists Following a consultation jointly held by NCHR, Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) and the Centre for Excellence in Journalism (CEJ), NCHR and DRF launched a complaint cell for the protection of female journalists and their rights to freedom of expression. Highlighted Cases Suo Moto On Priyantha Kumara Lynching Case Sri Lankan national, Priyantha Kumara, was brutally lynched and his body set on fire by a mob in Sialkot over allegations of blasphemy. NCHR took suo moto notice of this incident, and Member Punjab and Member Minority visited the site to analyse any prevalent undercurrents of the event. 5