The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993

Imagine a man dies in a police lock-up in a small town in Maharashtra. His family cannot afford a lawyer and does not trust the local police to investigate themselves. Is there anyone they can write to who can summon the police, examine records and ask the State to pay compensation? Since 1993 there has been: the National Human Rights Commission and its State counterparts. This topic explains who sits on them, what they can do, and, just as important for an exam, what they cannot do.

In two minutes

The Protection of Human Rights Act 1993 creates a National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), optional State Human Rights Commissions and Human Rights Courts; the Commissions inquire into violations of human rights by public servants and can recommend relief, but they cannot order it.

The rest of this chapter

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