सव भव तु सिखनः ु 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, 1