Previous Year Question

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is an autonomous statutory commission. It was established on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. The official NHRC website expressly confirms that the Commission is autonomous.

Its autonomy is supported by the method of appointment and fixed tenure of its Chairperson and Members, statutory safeguards, staffing and investigative arrangements, and provisions concerning financial autonomy. Therefore, the NHRC does not function as a subordinate department of the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Home Affairs or Ministry of Defence.

Important fact: A distinction must be made here. Governmental matters relating to human rights and the Protection of Human Rights Act are handled within the sphere of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The official MHA website lists human rights and matters concerning the Protection of Human Rights Act among the subjects handled by its departments.

This does not make the NHRC a subordinate department of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Therefore—

Nature of NHRC = Autonomous statutory commission Central governmental matters relating to human rights = associated with the Ministry of Home Affairs