Source: TOI
Subject: Polity
Context: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) regarding user safety concerns on the extramarital dating app, Gleeden.
About The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC):
What it is?
- The NHRC is a statutory public body in India, acting as a watchdog for human rights. It is an independent institution designed to protect the rights of individuals relating to life, liberty, equality, and dignity as guaranteed by the Constitution of India and international covenants.
Established in: The NHRC was established on October 12, 1993, under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993.
Aim:
- To promote and protect human rights across the country.
- To ensure that government authorities and private entities do not violate the fundamental rights of citizens.
- To foster a culture of human rights through education, research, and intervention.
Key Functions:
- Suo Motu Inquiries: The commission has the power to inquire into violations of human rights or negligence in the prevention of such violations, either on its own initiative or following a complaint.
- Intervention in Court Proceedings: It can intervene in any proceeding involving allegations of human rights violations pending before a court.
- Visits to Jails and Institutions: NHRC members visit prisons and other institutions under the control of state governments to study the living conditions of inmates and make recommendations.
- Review of Safeguards: It reviews the safeguards provided by or under the Constitution or any law for the protection of human rights and recommends measures for their effective implementation.
- Review of Terrorism/Extremism Factors: It examines factors, including acts of terrorism, that inhibit the enjoyment of human rights and suggests remedial measures.
- Study of International Treaties: The NHRC studies treaties and other international instruments on human rights and makes recommendations for their effective implementation.
- Promotion of Research and Awareness: It undertakes and promotes research in the field of human rights and spreads human rights literacy among various sections of society.
- Support for NGOs: It encourages the efforts of non-governmental organizations and institutions working in the field of human rights.
Significance:
- It provides a platform for victims of state or corporate negligence—including women and children—to seek justice.
- As seen in the MeitY notice, the NHRC plays a crucial role in assessing whether existing regulatory frameworks adequately cover emerging digital risks.
