Annual Report 2016 The Paris Principles clearly establish responsibilities of NHRIs in relation to the international human rights system in several articles. Some, of these responsibilities such as reviewing legislation for compliance with international law and recommending ratification of instruments, are reflected in section 12 of the NHRC Act 2009. The Commission during the last five years has submitted its reports to the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review cycle. Lessons learnt during these processes indicate the need of a multi stake holder coordination system to regularly collect data and hold at least bi annual consultations to assess progress against recommendations received from treaty bodies and the UPR Process. This mechanism should ideally involve the Human Rights focal persons in the government, civil society organizations, UN agencies, Human Rights Defenders and other relevant stake holders. The system should be developed in a manner that the reports under treaty bodies benefit from data gathered for national reports and vice versa. Commission intends to use its thematic committees as coordination forums for treaty reporting. 4. Powers to investigate and public confidence. It is essential that NHRIs be conferred with adequate legal powers to conduct its investigations both in relation to specific complaints of human rights violations or more general systemic issues. Further, the power to launch an inquiry suo-moto and to receive complaints from a representative of the affected person is equally important for a 35 NHRI, given that victims of most serious violations may, for a variety of reasons, be unable or unwilling to file a complaint. NHRC under Section 12 of its Act enjoys similar powers and reiterates in its action plan the need to conduct investigations into more systemic human rights violations. NHRIs will have popular legitimacy when they are seen to effectively handle issues within their purview. Thus, the need of adequate powers on investigations cannot be emphasized more. The NHRC would benefit if its powers to investigate human rights violations by disciplined forces are brought in line with Section 16 of the NHRC Act. As per the Section 18 of the Act, the procedure that the Commission may request for a report from the government and if it deems necessary to proceed with the matter, the NHRC may then recommend action from the government, to be delivered after a deadline of six months. NHRC feels that the Commission should have the power and mandate to inquire into any complaint of violation of human rights by the member/s of the law enforcing agencies. The suo moto public inquiry undertaken by the NHRC to investigate the alleged human rights violations of the Santal community was successful in many ways. The inquiry to a large extent was able to instill hope of justice, among the Santal community. The inquiry has helped to place this incident on public stage and provided the public with the opportunity to hear and understand what constitutes a human rights violation. Further, it has provided a channel to let the public know how to redress a human rights viola-