Chief Justice of India T S Thakur today asked the Centre to consider amending the 22-year-old law for providing more teeth to the National Human Rights Commission and state rights bodies to make certain recommendations by them "binding" on the Executive.
"It is the time, at least, to revisit whether the entire things (recommendations) have to be recommendatory. The power vested in the NHRC has to be revisited whether it is only a recommendatory body. We must ask the Centre that there is a need to revisit the Act," Justice Thakur said.
The CJI, speaking on the occasion of the Human Rights Day, agreed with the grievance of Acting Chairperson of NHRC Justice Cyriac Joseph that its over 600 recommendations have not been acted upon by the Centre and state governments and critics often term it as a "toothless" body.
Sharing similar views, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said it is not fair to make comment like toothless body for NHRC which is performing its role very effectively and there are certain constraints that "we need to look into".
"It is distressing for me to say adequate support is not provided to NHRC. We are duty bound to address such concerns. I feel legislatures need to take responsibility much more seriously," the Minister said assuring corrective measures.
Taking note of the remarks of Justice Joseph and Rijiju, the CJI said, "At least, if entire recommendations (of NHRC) cannot be accepted, then certain parts of them can be made binding."
He also expressed pain that there have been "large percentage" of rejections of the recommendations of NHRC which needed to be addressed.
"Least, Parliament can do is to pass reasoned order as to why the recommendations are not accepted. There have been large percentage of rejections of recommendations made by the high and responsible body (NHRC) which is headed by former Chief Justice of India and members being retired HC judges that needs to be addressed," the CJI said.
