NHRC has become trusted refuge for India's aggrieved, says CJI Kant

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Monday underscored the National Human Rights Commission's critical role as a guardian of human dignity in India, describing it as a "trusted address" for the aggrieved during the institution's 33rd Foundation Day celebrations at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

Addressing the NHRC's growth over three decades, CJI Kant noted that Parliament's creation of the Commission has evolved from an institutional concept into a vital mechanism for addressing violations. "If the Constitution is the promise, the Commission is one of its keepers," he said, highlighting its unique operational mandate.

The Chief Justice emphasized that the true efficacy of a human rights institution cannot be measured solely by case numbers, but rather by its accessibility to society's most vulnerable populations. "It goes where the court cannot easily go; it listens to those who cannot easily speak, and it can act on its own without waiting to be asked," he remarked, pointing to the NHRC's proactive investigative powers.

CJI Kant specifically referenced the NHRC's interventions in high-impact areas including custodial torture allegations, bonded labour cases, and occupational health hazards such as silicosis exposure, illustrating the Commission's broad scope in protecting fundamental rights across diverse sectors of Indian society.