The Supreme Court on Friday proposed to consider the grievance of the National Human Right’s Commission (NHRC) that it has become a “toothless tiger” with the apex right’s body complaining about difficulties in discharging its duties, including non-cooperation from State governments and lack of staff.
The court noted the rights commissions’ submission that “it was helpless in taking any coercive measures since it has no power to take action against persons or authorities who do not follow the guidelines laid down by it [NHRC] nor does it have power to give directions or pass orders but can only make recommendations.”
“We propose to consider the grievance of the NHRC that it as become a toothless tiger, after hearing the Union of India and the NHRC on this important issue,” a Bench of Justices M.B. Lokur and U.U. Lalit said while dealing with a PIL petition on extra-judicial killings in militancy infested Manipur and the plea for repealing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.
