Which statement is true in relation to the Protection of Human Rights Act?
- (a)The Act came into force on 23rd September, 1993.
- (b)The Act came into force on 28th September, 1993.
- (c)The Act came into force on 23rd September, 1995.
- (d)The Act came into force on 28th September, 1995.
Correct — B, the Act came into force on 28th September, 1993. The law began life as the Protection of Human Rights Ordinance, promulgated on 28 September 1993. When it was later enacted as the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 (Act 10 of 1994, which received assent on 8 January 1994), the Act was expressly deemed to have come into force from 28 September 1993 — so the National Human Rights Commission's legal existence dates back to that day.
- (a)The Act came into force on 23rd September, 1993. — Wrong date — the operative day is the 28th (the day the Ordinance was promulgated), not the 23rd; the year 1993 is right.
- (c)The Act came into force on 23rd September, 1995. — Wrong on both counts — the commencement is 1993, not 1995, and the day is the 28th, not the 23rd.
- (d)The Act came into force on 28th September, 1995. — Right day of the month but wrong year — 28 September belongs to 1993, not 1995.
The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 is the statute that created India's human-rights machinery: the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), State Human Rights Commissions and Human Rights Courts. It defines 'human rights' as the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in international covenants and enforceable by Indian courts. Because it is created by an ordinary law (not by the Constitution), the NHRC is a statutory — not a constitutional — body.
The trap is the four near-identical dates. Fix one anchor: 28 September 1993 is the Ordinance day, and the Act is 'deemed to have come into force' from that day even though it was formally passed in 1994. Ignore the 1995 options and the 23rd.
- The Act established the NHRC, State Human Rights Commissions and Human Rights Courts.
- It started as an Ordinance on 28 September 1993 and is deemed in force from that date; the Act (Act 10 of 1994) received assent on 8 January 1994.
- The NHRC was constituted on 12 October 1993.
- The NHRC is a statutory body created by this Act, not a constitutional body.
- 28 Sep 1993 — Protection of Human Rights Ordinance promulgated (the deemed date of commencement)
- 12 Oct 1993 — National Human Rights Commission constituted
- 8 Jan 1994 — enacted as Act 10 of 1994 (Presidential assent)
The Act is 'deemed to have come into force' on 28 September 1993 — the Ordinance day — which is why option B is correct.
- Confusing the Ordinance/commencement date (1993) with the assent date (1994)
- Calling the NHRC a constitutional body — it is statutory
MPPSC asks the exact date, section or number; UPSC prefers the NHRC's status (statutory), composition and powers. Anchor: 28 September 1993.
Consider the following organizations/bodies in India: 1. The National Commission for Backward Classes 2. The National Human Rights Commission 3. The National Law Commission 4. The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. How many of the above are constitutional bodies?
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two
- (c) Only three
- (d) All four
Answer(a) Only one — only the National Commission for Backward Classes is constitutional; the NHRC is statutory under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
Same theme — the NHRC's legal status: a statutory body under the very 1993 Act whose commencement this question tests.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is a:
- (a)constitutional body
- (b)statutory body
- (c)purely executive body
- (d)judicial body
Answer(b) statutory body — created by the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 established all of the following EXCEPT:
- (a)National Human Rights Commission
- (b)State Human Rights Commissions
- (c)Human Rights Courts
- (d)The Lokpal
Answer(d) The Lokpal — it comes from the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, not this Act.