Unfilled vacancies in NHRC and SHRCs a matter of concern: Justice PC Pant

Justice PC Pant, member of the National Human Rights Commission, on Friday said that it is a matter of concern that there are unfilled vacancies in the NHRC and SHRCs. Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram states are yet to establish State Human Rights Commission.

He was inaugurating the Annual meeting of the National Human Rights Commission with the State Human Rights Commissions online in New Delhi.

Justice Pant also said that the definition and punishment for offence of violation of human rights needs to be incorporated in Protection of Human Rights Act, PHRA and the procedure of trial of such offence is also to be clarified. This has created problems for Human Right Courts, established in various States under the Act. Justice Pant said that he had raised this issue last year also, but, unfortunately, PHR Act still remains un amended till date on this aspect.


Justice Pant said that the National and State Human Rights Commissions have a vital role in promoting and monitoring the effective implementation of international human rights standards thereby enabling Governments to fulfil their constitutional and international obligation.

Prior to this, Bimbadhar Pradhan, Secretary General, NHRC said that the Commission has taken several initiatives to collaborate with SHRCs including linking them with its HRC net portal for complaint management. 20 SHRCs are already on-board the HRC net portal to help create a synergy among the human rights institutions for better promotion and protection of human rights.

He urged the SHRCs of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand also to join the HRC net portal.