Guwahati (The Stellar News): Justice HL Dattu has completed his tenure as the seventh chairperson of National Human Rights Commission (of India) on 2 December 2020, who joined the NHRC on 29 February 2016 after retiring as the Chief Justice of India on 2 December 2015. During his tenure, the Commission intervened in a number of cases of human rights violations, which brought succour to the victims of human rights violations, said a statement issued by the NHRC from New Delhi adding that it also brought down the number of cases, which were taking long to dispose of.
Total 3,91,937 complaints of human rights violations were registered during his tenure where 4,20,913 cases, including some old and new cases, were disposed of and Rs 84,31,94,593 were paid in 268 cases as monetary relief by the public authorities as per recommendations of the Commission. Under his leadership, the Commission retained its ‘A’ status of accreditation with the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI). The Asia Pacific Forum (APF) in acknowledgement of the wide range of experience and expertise of NHRC has already gone for an understanding to share it with several NHRCs and like entities across the globe.
Justice Dattu also represented the NHRC as a member in the GANHRI bureau and the governance committee of APF. The dialogue with the State human rights commissions and other Commissions gained strength for mutual cooperation on the matters of human rights. Many State governments responded to the NHRC’s requests by designating human rights courts at district levels. The Commission has also expanded its outreach by linking its online complaints filing system with over three lakh common service centres across the country.
Justice Dattu launched its portal to facilitate quick online communications between the NHRC and SHRCs to cut short the possibility of duplication of complaints and promote timely processing of complaints received online. During his tenure, the Commission also launched its twitter handle in 2020, which in a short span, witnessed a number of followers. Justice Dattu also launched the NHRC’s popular annual short film competition on human rights in 2015. He encouraged in building awareness about human rights through street theater.
