The SCA in its 2024 recommendations recommended that the NHRC continue to advocate for the completion of the appointment process to fill remaining vacancies in its leadership body, and for further amendments to the PHRA, to ensure a pluralistic balance in its composition and staff, by ensuring that diversity of Indian society is represented including, but not limited to, religious or ethnic minorities and the equitable representation of women on the NHRC’s decision-making body.
The SCA was concerned that the composition of the membership of the NHRC with only one woman and the composition of the staff was not sufficient to meet the pluralism requirements of the Paris Principles. It was noted that, as of March 2025, the NHRC was not fully constituted with two out of the six standing commissioners’ positions being vacant. The SCA highlighted that a diverse decision-making and staff body facilitates the NHRI appreciation of, and capacity to engage on, all human rights issues affecting the society in which it operates and promotes the accessibility of the NHRI to all citizens.
During the SCA 45th session in March 2025, the NHRC reported that it was committed to upholding pluralism in accordance with the Paris Principles and noted that the current selection and appointment process outlined in the PHRA, enables the appointment of persons including those from civil society, NGOs, and stakeholders that have experience in human rights. The NHRC further indicated that while the PHRA does not bar the appointment of a person of any other gender as chairperson/member, the observations of the SCA to appoint more women in its membership was brought to the attention of the government and that the selection committee on appointments has been engaged to consider pluralism and diversity in the selection and appointment process of its members.
The NHRC further reported that out of 339 staff, 246 are men and 93 are women. The NHRC further reported that of the last 43 recruitments, 31 have been women. Out of the six standing commissioners as provided for in Section 3(2) of the PHRA, currently one of them is a woman. The NHRC noted that in total, including the Chairpersons of the National Commissions, there are 11 commissioners out of whom 3 are women.
The SCA acknowledges the steps taken by the NHRC to address pluralism within its membership and staff composition. However, the SCA notes that the NHRC composition continues to be incomplete and that only one woman is present as a standing commissioner. The SCA further notes that the composition of the staff with 246 men out of 339 was not gender representative. It was also unclear to the SCA the percentage of women within the NHRC senior leadership.
The SCA restates its view for a diverse decision-making and staff body and recommends the NHRC to continue to advocate for the completion of the appointment process to fill remaining vacancies in its leadership body, and for further amendments to the PHRA, to ensure a pluralistic balance in its composition, by ensuring diversity and the equitable representation of women on the NHRC’s decision-making body. In terms of staff, the SCA recommends that the NHRC continue to take active measures to ensure an equitable gender representation.
The SCA refers to Paris Principle B.1 and to its General Observation 1.7 on ‘Ensuring pluralism of the NHRI’.”