NHRC sources told UNI that the seven-member committee, headed by former chief justice A M Ahmadi, has suggested restricting the definition of the armed forces to only the army, the air force and navy so that para-military forces, who are often accused of violating human rights while fighting insurgency, terrorism and even during peace-keeping operations, would not be excluded from purview of NHRC as it is now.

The advisory committee, set up by NHRC to assess the need for structural changes and amendment in the Act in light of experience gained in administration of law for more than five years, made this recommendation after consultations with chief justices of high courts, chief of army, navy, airforce and para-military forces, chairpersons of state human rights commissions and various NGOs working in the human rights field.

The committee, which submitted its report to NHRC chairperson Justice M N Venkatachaliah on Monday, has also suggested empowering the national and state human rights commission to inquire any matter after expiry of one year from the date when the act constituting violation of human rights is alleged to have been committed, if there is sufficient reason for not filing the complaint within the said period. Currently, the NHRC could investigate incidents of human rights violations within one year of the occurrence.

Report also stressed need for financial autonomy of human rights commission. It has recommended that the composition of the NHRC should be changed with two judicial and three non-judicial members, of whom one should be a woman.