NHRC Has Become Trusted Address for the Aggrieved, Says CJI Surya Kant

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Monday described the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) as a “trusted address” for people seeking justice, stressing that its effectiveness should be judged by its ability to protect the most vulnerable and ensure accountability for human rights violations.

Addressing the commission’s 33rd Foundation Day celebrations at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, the CJI said the NHRC had registered more than 24 lakh cases and disposed of over 23 lakh, achieving a disposal rate exceeding 98 per cent during its 33-year journey.

According to the NHRC’s official data, the commission has handled 24,33,716 cases, including 3,100 cases taken up suo motu, and recommended more than ₹274 crore in monetary relief to victims across 9,085 cases.

Surya Kant highlighted the commission’s interventions involving custodial torture and deaths, bonded labour, industrial exposure to silicosis and violations affecting marginalised communities. He said human rights institutions must go beyond identifying violations to secure meaningful relief, establish accountability and prevent their recurrence.

Emphasising the importance of credibility, he said the commission’s moral authority was built through careful investigations, timely interventions and honest reports. He added that rights must be accessible to people who struggle to make their grievances heard.

The CJI said Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, has evolved to encompass dignity, healthcare, food, shelter, livelihood and a clean environment.

Highlighting access to safe drinking water, he said household tap connections alone were insufficient unless water was safe, reliable and available when required. Contaminated water containing arsenic and fluoride, he warned, threatens human health and dignity.

Speaking at a national conference titled “Water as the Elixir of Life: Advancing Human Dignity through the Right to Water,” he called for coordinated action by governments, courts and human rights commissions. He stressed that governments must maintain water infrastructure, courts must intervene when constitutional rights are violated, and commissions must investigate complaints and identify systemic failures.

He also warned that depleted aquifers and polluted rivers impose an unfair burden on future generations. Welcoming the NHRC India mobile application and digitisation initiatives, he expressed confidence that these measures would improve accessibility and strengthen human rights protection.

NHRC Chairperson and former Supreme Court judge Justice V. Ramasubramanian also addressed the gathering.