NHRC registering more cases, says there is more awareness
NHRC data have revealed that cases registered by the National Human Rights Commission have gone up over the past three years, but those where
monetary relief was recommended have in fact declined.
Highlights of the data:
- The cases where relief was recommended fell 26% from 2013-2014 to 2015-2016. For the same time period, the number of cases registered by the Commission rose 20%.
- In 2013-2014, 98,136 cases were registered and monetary relief was recommended in 443. While the number of cases lodged in 2014-2015 rose to 1.14 lakh, the cases where relief was granted decreased to 378. The trend continued in 2015-2016, with 1.17 lakh cases being registered and relief being recommended in 326 cases.
- However, according to NHRC officials, there are several reasons behind fewer cases ending with monetary relief. Some cases had been taken up by the courts or State human rights commissions, others were closed or disposed off for lack of a clear offence being established.
- Complaints where someone lost their life or was hurt were clearer cases for compensation. Four types of complaints – custodial death (judicial and police), death in police encounter and alleged fake encounters – accounted for almost 2% of cases lodged in 2015-2016, but 35% of cases were relief was granted.
- Over the three years, cases related to the police remained the top contributor to the NHRC’s load, accounting for 30% of total cases registered in 2015-2016.
