appointed from amongst persons having knowledge and practical experience in matters of human rights, one of whom shall be a woman. • The Chairpersons of the National Commission of Backward Classes, the National Commission for Minorities, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes; the National Commission for Women and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disability shall be deemed to be Members of the Commission for the discharge of all functions except judicial functions. • Shri Rajiv Jain Member, NHRC India The composition of NHRC reflects plurality, inclusiveness and representation of all sections of society to ensure participatory and wholesome mechanisms to address the issues of human rights in the country. • The Commission has a secretary-general who is the Commission’s chief executive officer (CEO). He exercises all administrative and financial powers under the control of the Chairperson, except judicial functions and the power to make regulations. • The working strength of NHRC is around 550, which consists of various ranks of officers and officials appointed by the Commission. The Commission has five Divisions: Law Division, Investigation Division, Administrative Division, Training Division, Policy Research, Projects and Programme Division. The Law and Investigation Divisions are independent and work under the direct supervision and guidance of the Chairperson and Members of the Commission as a part of the judicial functions. • The headquarters of the Commission is in New Delhi, and the Commission may establish offices at other places in India. However, there is no branch office of the Commission in India. Shri Bharat Lal Secretary General, NHRC India Functions of NHRC NHRC’s Mandate The Commission has a wide mandate. Its functions, listed in Section 12 (a) to (j) of the PHRA, are to inquire, suo motu or on a petition presented to it by the victim or any person on his behalf or a direction or order of any court, into the complaint of; violation of human rights or abetment thereof, or; negligence in the prevention of such violation, by a public servant. It intervenes in any proceeding involving any allegation of violation of human rights pending before a court with the approval of such court, undertakes visits to any jail or other institution under the control of the state government, where persons are detained or lodged for purposes of treatment, reformation or protection, for the 4 | HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL www.nhrc.nic.in, covdnhrc@nic.in, @India_NHRC