Examine the following statements regarding the powers and jurisdiction of the ‘National Human Rights Commission’ (NHRC):
- The Commission has direct power to punish for human rights violations or award compensation to victims.
- The Commission can only investigate incidents that occurred within one year.
- The Commission can request a report from the Central Government in cases of human rights violations by armed forces.
Which of the above statements are correct?
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The NHRC can only investigate complaints made within one year of the incident (2), and for violations by the armed forces it can merely seek a report from the central government (3). Statement 1 is wrong because the NHRC is recommendatory; it cannot itself punish or award compensation, only recommend such action to the government or courts.