NHRC turns 25; PM attends silver jubilee foundation day function

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission, which has served as a "watchdog of democracy" and has been part of some landmark cases in which its intervention had significant impact, completed 25 years on Friday.

Addressing the Silver Jubilee Foundation day function at the Vigyan Bhawan here, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government is committed to improve the lives of people by ensuring their rights.

A commemorative first day postal cover and stamp were released on the occasion, and a new version of the commission's website was also launched, a senior NHRC

official said.

Besides, the prime minister, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Communications Manoj

Sinha also attended the function on Friday.

The commission, which was established on October 12, 1993 under the Protection of the Human Rights (PHR) Act, 1993, has lined up a host of activities till Sunday to mark the anniversary.

Disposal of more than 17 lakh cases, payment of more than one billion rupees to the victims of human rights violations by various state agencies on the recommendations of the Commission and more than 750 on-spot inquiries cap the 25 years of NHRC's work for the cause, the official said.

The rights panel has five members, including the chairperson, who deliberate upon cases put before them. Currently, two posts of members are vacant, he said.