NHRC, India 3.6 ii. One Member who is, or has been, a Judge of the Supreme Court; iii. One Member who is, or has been, the Chief Justice of a High Court; iv. Three Members, out of which at least one shall be a woman, to be appointed from amongst persons having knowledge of, or practical experience in, matters relating to human rights. With this amendment, the number of Deemed Members of the Commission has increased from five to seven. As per PHRA (amended) 2019, the seven deemed members of the Commission are as under: v. Chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes vi. Chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes vii. Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities viii. Chairperson of the National Commission for Women ix. Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights x. Chairperson of the National Commission for Backward Classes xi. Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities 3.7 The Chairperson and the Members of the NHRC are appointed by the President of India, on recommendations of a high-level Committee comprising of the Prime Minister (as Chairperson), the Speaker of the Lok Sabha (House of the People), the Minister in-charge of the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Government of India, the Leaders of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha (Council of States), and the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. 3.8 The Chief Executive Officer of the Commission is the Secretary General, an officer of the rank of Secretary to the Government of India. The Secretariat of the Commission works under the overall guidance of the Secretary General. 3.9 Powers Relating to Inquiries: The NHRC has been entrusted with the powers of a civil court trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, especially with respect to summoning and enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them on oath; discovery and production of any documents; receiving evidence through affidavits; requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office; issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents, and any other matter that maybe prescribed. In case of breach, it calls upon the concerned Government to take remedial measures and pay compensation to the victim or to the next of their kin and also remind public servants of their duties and obligations. Depending on the case, it may further initiate proceedings for prosecution, or any other suitable action as it may deem fit, against the person(s) concerned. It is armed with the power of taking suo motu cognizance of serious matters based on newspaper and media reports. 3.10 Extensive Range of Functions: The Commission has a wide mandate. Its functions, as laid down in Section 12 of the PHRA, include: ANNUAL REPORT 9 2021-22