Human rights courts
Topic: Statutory, Regulatory and Quasi-judicial Bodies · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Human rights courts are ordinary Sessions Courts that a state names to try offences arising from human rights violations quickly. A Sessions Court is the main criminal court of a district. Section 30 of the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993 lets a state name one such court in each district, with the agreement of the High Court Chief Justice. They are not new courts. Existing courts are given this extra role so that rights cases do not get stuck in long queues.
Example
Say a state names the Sessions Court of a district as its human rights court under Section 30. Cases of offences arising from human rights violations in that district can then be tried there quickly.
Don't confuse with
- National Human Rights Commission: the NHRC only inquires and recommends. It cannot prosecute or punish anyone. A human rights court is a real criminal court that can hold trials.
Related concepts
- National Human Rights Commission
- State Human Rights Commission
- Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act 2019
- Paris Principles
- GANHRI accreditation