Non-constitutional statutory and regulatory bodies for rights, vigilance and investigation
National Human Rights Commission: Establishment and Functions
The Basics
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is the country's watchdog for human rights. It is a statutory body, not a constitutional one, created in 1993 by an ordinary law of Parliament called the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. It watches over rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual, whether these come from the Constitution or from international human rights covenants that are enforceable by Indian courts.
A State Human Rights Commission is the state-level counterpart of the National Human Rights Commission, set up under the same Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, by the concerned state government. It can inquire into violation of human rights only on subjects in the State List and the Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule. If the National Human Rights Commission or another statutory commission is already inquiring into a case, the State Commission does not take it up.
Human Rights Courts under the Protection of Human Rights Act
The Basics
A Human Rights Court is a special court set up at the district level. It tries cases of human rights violations speedily. It is not a new building or a separate cadre of judges. An existing Court of Session is designated for this purpose under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
The National Commission for Women is an autonomous statutory body created to protect, promote and safeguard the rights and interests of women. It is not a constitutional body; it was set up under an ordinary law passed by Parliament, the National Commission for Women Act, 1990, and began functioning in 1992. The Ministry of Women and Child Development is its nodal ministry.
The Right to Information Act, 2005, lets any citizen ask a public authority for information. The authority must legally answer within a fixed time. It converts the implied right to know, drawn from freedom of speech, into a concrete procedure with deadlines and penalties.
The Central Information Commission is the final appellate authority under the Right to Information Act at the Union level. It was set up in 2005 under the Act itself. It is therefore a statutory body, not a constitutional body. It hears complaints and appeals about information requests to central government offices, financial institutions and public sector undertakings, including those in Union Territories.
Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019: Changes to Service Conditions
The Basics
The Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019 changed the term and salary of Information Commissioners. It shifted this power from the Act itself to the Central Government.
Central Vigilance Commission: Establishment, Functions and Whistle Blowers Protection
The Basics
The Central Vigilance Commission is the apex agency in the Central government for checking corruption among public servants. It is the top vigilance institution, free from executive control. It monitors and advises all vigilance work across Central government organisations.
Anti-Corruption Legal and Institutional Framework in India
The Basics
Before the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act of 2013 created a dedicated anti-corruption ombudsman, India relied on a scattered set of laws, rules and vigilance offices to check corruption among public servants. This older framework still operates alongside the Lokpal today.
Central Bureau of Investigation: Establishment, Jurisdiction and Functions
The Basics
The Central Bureau of Investigation is the premier investigating agency of the Central Government, dealing with corruption, economic offences and serious organised crime. It is not a statutory body; it derives its powers from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.
Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013: Background and Features
The Basics
The Lokpal and the Lokayuktas are India's anti-corruption ombudsman bodies, the Lokpal at the Union level and a Lokayukta in every state, created to receive and inquire into corruption complaints against public servants.
Global Grievance Redressal Models: Ombudsman, Administrative Courts and Procurator Systems
The Basics
Modern governments function as welfare states. They run schools, hospitals, pensions and licences for citizens. This growth increased administrative power and discretion among civil servants. With it came risks of harassment, maladministration and corruption. To redress citizens' grievances, three institutional devices developed worldwide: the Ombudsman System, the Administrative Courts System, and the Procurator System.
State and District Disaster Management Authorities: Composition and Functions
The Basics
The State Disaster Management Authority and the District Disaster Management Authority are the state-level and district-level bodies created under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 to plan and coordinate disaster management below the national level.
The Bar Council of India and the State Bar Councils are the statutory bodies that regulate the legal profession in India. They were created by the Advocates Act, 1961, passed by Parliament, so they are statutory bodies, not constitutional ones.
Part IX-B: Detailed Governance Provisions of Co-operative Societies
The Basics
Part IX-B does not just declare a right to form co-operative societies, it also lays down a detailed governance framework that every state law on co-operatives must follow. This note covers incorporation, board composition, elections, supersession, audit, meetings, returns and offences.