Need to avoid duplication of cases: NHRC Chairperson

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairperson Justice V Ramasubramanian stressed the need to avoid duplication of cases, improve information sharing and promote best practices as the country’s human rights performance is assessed collectively through the functioning of all commissions.

Justice Ramasubramanian was speaking at a day-long conference of the State Human Rights Commissions (SHRCs), along with Special Rapporteurs and Special Monitors, in virtual mode, organised by the NHRC, India at its premises here on Tuesday.

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Chairing the Conference, the NHRC chairperson emphasised that India’s human rights framework is unique because both the NHRC and SHRCs exercise concurrent jurisdiction on certain matters in addition to their subject-specific jurisdiction. “The country’s human rights performance is assessed collectively through the functioning of all Commissions. Therefore, there is a need to avoid duplication of cases, improve information sharing and promote best practices,” he said.

NHRC Members, Justice (Dr.) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, Vijaya Bharathi Sayani; Secretary General, Bharat Lal; DG (I), Anupama Nilekar Chandra and senior officers were present on the occasion.

Justice Ramasubramanian urged SHRCs to digitise their functioning and join a common integrated HRCNet portal with the NHRC.

He also cautioned the Commissions against exceeding their jurisdiction, noting that while courts have expanded the scope of fundamental and human rights, human rights institutions must remain guided by the definition under the Protection of Human Rights Act. He said maintaining jurisdictional clarity would reduce unnecessary litigation and enable Commissions to deliver more effective, quality service. He also expressed hope for closer collaboration and future in-person engagements among the Commissions.

The two sessions of the Conference included an interaction with the SHRCs to understand their challenges, followed by NHRC, India Special Rapporteurs and Special Monitors on their field experiences to strengthen the human rights mechanism in the country.