NHRC at 32: Former President Kovind to Honour Legacy; Justice V. Ramasubramanian to Lead Vision Forward
(By Syed Ali Taher Abedi)
Delhi,14, October,2025- In its 32-year odyssey as the sentinel of constitutional morality and human dignity, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has adjudicated over 23 lakh cases, including 2,981 Suo motu matters, and recommended relief exceeding ₹263 crore to victims of human rights violations is evidence to its firm commitment to justice for the marginalized.
To commemorate this enduring legacy, the NHRC will convene its 32nd Foundation Day on 16th October 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The ceremonial proceedings will be graced by the Hon’ble Ram Nath Kovind, Former President of India, who shall deliver the inaugural address. Presiding over the occasion will be NHRC Chairperson, Hon’ble Justice V. Ramasubramanian, alongside Commission Members — Hon’ble Justice (Dr) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, Vijaya Bharathi Sayani, and Priyank Kanoongo — with Secretary General Bharat Lal and other senior dignitaries in attendance.
The National Human Rights Commission shall convene a day-long National Conference on the “Human Rights of Prison Inmates”, aimed at fostering a comprehensive dialogue on the rights, dignity, and welfare of those incarcerated. The deliberations, to be held across thematic sessions, will encompass critical aspects of custodial justice and the humane administration of prisons. The conference will witness participation from a wide spectrum of stakeholders including representatives of Union Ministries and State Governments, members of the diplomatic corps, eminent academicians, researchers, jurists, distinguished experts, civil society representatives, and human rights defenders all converging to reaffirm the collective commitment to constitutional morality and human dignity behind bars.
Since its establishment on 12 October 1993, the Commission has steadfastly advanced the cause of human rights through policy reform advocacy, people-centric governance, and institutional accountability. Over its 32-year journey, the NHRC has consistently underscored the principles of fairness, transparency, and justice in the enforcement of law, conduct of investigations, and implementation of welfare programmes. Its interventions have strengthened police accountability, prison reforms, and the protection of the rights of both the accused and victims, guided by research, policy dialogue, and public awareness initiatives.
The Commission continues to collaborate closely with the Central and State Governments, statutory bodies, academic and research institutions, non-governmental organisations, and human rights defenders, in its enduring endeavour to uphold and promote the human rights of all — particularly those belonging to the most vulnerable and marginalised sections of society.
The Commission has issued 31 advisories to date, covering a wide range of issues including Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), the rights of widows, individuals involved in begging, the right to food, health and mental health rights, informal workers’ rights, dignity of the deceased, rights of truck drivers, environmental pollution and degradation, welfare of transgender persons, prevention of deliberate self-harm and suicide attempts by prisoners, and measures to prevent, minimize, and mitigate ocular trauma. Additionally, the Commission has recommended amendments to 97 laws that discriminate against persons affected by Hansen’s disease.
Over the past 32 years, the Commission has addressed 2,379,043 cases, including 2,981 Suo motu cognizance cases. It has recommended monetary relief exceeding ₹263 crore in 8,924 cases to victims of human rights violations. In the one-year period from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, the Commission received 73,849 complaints and registered 108 Suo motu cases. During this time, it conducted 63 spot inquiries, disposed of 38,063 cases, and recommended over ₹9 crore in monetary relief in 210 cases. This includes relief granted promptly during two ‘Open Hearings and Camp Sittings’ held in Odisha and Telangana. These sessions also served to sensitize senior state officials on the importance of timely reporting for expeditious victim relief and facilitated engagement with local NGOs, human rights defenders, and media representatives.
The NHRC continues to fortify its human rights mandate through institutional mechanisms and collaborative outreach. Special Rapporteurs and Monitors conduct field visits to prisons, shelter homes, and observation centres, submitting detailed reports to guide policy action. A Statutory Full Commission Meeting was convened with seven deemed members, including six National Commissions and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, alongside a national conference of State Human Rights Commissions and field experts.
Over the past year, NHRC hosted four national conferences on critical themes: rights of older persons, human trafficking in the digital age, mental wellbeing, and transgender rights. Twelve thematic core groups comprising experts, NGOs, and officials were constituted to evaluate government schemes and recommend reforms, with meetings held on climate change, juvenile justice, and ASHA workers’ rights.
Four Open House Discussions addressed pressing concerns such as ragging in higher education, digital privacy, gig workers’ rights, and children of sex workers. Ten research studies were completed, covering bonded labour, SC/ST rights, Panchayati Raj Institutions, Ashram Schools in tribal belts, and domestic workers.
In its capacity-building efforts, NHRC partnered with All India Services academies to develop tailored training modules, sensitizing young officers to the multidimensional nature of human rights and embedding constitutional values early in their careers.
In furtherance of its constitutional mandate to advance human rights awareness and capacity building, the National Human Rights Commission, India has, during the past year, undertaken several notable initiatives. It organised 33 collaborative workshops, four moot court competitions, and extended financial assistance exceeding ₹66 lakh to partner institutions. The Commission also conducted its winter and summer internships and six Online Short-Term Internship (OSTI) programmes, empowering hundreds of students from remote regions to serve as human rights ambassadors.
To foster academic engagement, the NHRC facilitated exposure visits for students and faculty from 55 institutions, providing firsthand insight into its functioning. As part of its sensitisation efforts for security personnel, it organised annual debate competitions for the Central Armed Police Forces and State Police organisations.
On the international front, the Commission has played an active role in the Asia Pacific Forum of NHRIs, GANHRI, and the UN Human Rights Council, reinforcing India’s voice in global human rights discourse. Under the ITEC capacity-building programme in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, the NHRC has conducted four international training programmes, including two in the past year, for 78 senior NHRI officials from 23 countries across Africa, Asia, South America, and the Pacific—fostering South–South cooperation and rights-based governance.
The Commission continues to engage with civil society through human rights photography and short film competitions, receiving a record 303 entries last year in multiple Indian languages. Its publishing initiatives have expanded through new research-based volumes, including the Annual Journal, ‘Manav Adhikar: Nai Dishayein’, and ‘Transgender Persons: Revamping Spaces, Reclaiming Voices.’
Furthering accessibility, the NHRC has enhanced its digital outreach by integrating the HRCNet Portal with most State Human Rights Commissions, enabling citizens to file and track complaints online in real time—a step towards transparent and citizen-centric human rights governance.
