Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: 1 2 3 and 4
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is a statutory body established under the Protection of Human Rights Act to protect and promote human rights in India. It has a broad mandate that includes investigation, monitoring, advisory and promotional roles. This question asks you to identify which among the listed activities are among the recognised functions of the NHRC.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Statement 1: NHRC can inquire suo motu into cases of human rights violations.- Statement 2: NHRC can inquire into complaints presented by a victim or any person on the victim's behalf.- Statement 3: NHRC can visit jails and other institutions to study the conditions of inmates.- Statement 4: NHRC undertakes and promotes research in the field of human rights.
Concept / Approach:
Under the Protection of Human Rights Act, the NHRC has power to investigate human rights violations both on a complaint and on its own initiative. It can visit any jail or other institution under the control of the State Government where persons are detained, to study living conditions and make recommendations. It also has promotional functions such as spreading human rights literacy and encouraging research and teaching in the field of human rights. Taken together, these powers show that all four statements describe genuine functions of the NHRC.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Evaluate Statement 1. The Act expressly authorises the NHRC to take suo motu cognisance of matters where human rights may have been violated, so Statement 1 is correct.Step 2: Evaluate Statement 2. The Commission can act on complaints presented by a victim or by any person on the victim's behalf, confirming that Statement 2 is also correct.Step 3: Evaluate Statement 3. One of the specific functions is to visit jails and other institutions where persons are detained to study living conditions and make recommendations for improvement, making Statement 3 correct.Step 4: Evaluate Statement 4. The NHRC is also tasked with promoting human rights literacy, encouraging efforts of NGOs and institutions and undertaking and promoting research, which confirms that Statement 4 is correct.Step 5: Since all four statements are correct, the appropriate option is the one that includes 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Verification / Alternative check:
As an alternative check, recall that NHRC has both protective and promotional roles. Protective roles involve investigation of violations through complaints or suo motu powers and inspection of detention facilities. Promotional roles include research, education and awareness. The four statements together cover this full spectrum, strongly suggesting that they all fall within the Commission's mandate.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (1 and 2 only) is wrong because it omits the jail visit and research functions, which are clearly mentioned in the Act.Option B (2 3 and 4 only) is wrong because it ignores the NHRC's power to act suo motu, which is an important feature of its functioning.Option C (1 3 and 4 only) is wrong because it leaves out the explicit right of victims and others to present complaints to the Commission.
Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes think of NHRC only as a complaint handling body and forget its suo motu powers or its broader role in promoting human rights education and research. Another mistake is to assume that visiting jails is exclusively a function of prison departments and not of human rights institutions. In fact, independent inspection of detention facilities by bodies like NHRC is a crucial safeguard against abuse. Keeping the protective and promotional aspects of NHRC in mind helps in answering such questions correctly.
Final Answer:
Correct answer: 1 2 3 and 4
Discussion & Comments