17. Inquiry into complaints

The Commission while inquiring into the complaints of violations of human rights may-

(i)  call for information or report from the Central Government or any State Government or any other authority or organisation subordinate thereto within such time as may be specified by it

Provided that-

(a)     if the information or report is not received within the time stipulated by the Commission, it may proceed to inquire into the complaint on its own;

(b)     if, on receipt of information or report, the Commission is satisfied either that no further inquiry is required or that the required action has been initiated or taken by the concerned Government or authority, it may not proceed with the complaint and inform the complainant accordingly;

(ii) without prejudice to anything contained in clause (i), if it considers necessary, having regard to the nature of the complaint, initiate an inquiry.

18. Steps after inquiry

The Commission may take any of the following steps upon the completion of an inquiry held under this Act namely

(1)     where the inquiry discloses, the commission of violation of human rights or negligence in the prevention of violation of human rights by a public servant, it may recommend to the concerned Government or authority the initiation of proceedings for prosecution or such other action as the Commission may deem fit against the concerned person or persons;

(2)     approach the Supreme Court or the High Court concerned for such directions, orders or writs as that Court may deem necessary;

(3)     recommend to the concerned Government or authority for the grant of such immediate interim relief to the victim or the members of his family as the Commission may consider necessary;

(4)     subject to the provisions of clause (5), provide a copy of the inquiry report to the petitioner or his representative;

(5)     the Commission shall send a copy of its inquiry report together with its recommendations to the concerned Government or authority and the concerned Government or authority shall, within a period of one month, or such further time as the Commission may allow, forward its comments on the report, including the action taken or proposed to be taken thereon, to the Commission;

(6)     the Commission shall publish its inquiry report together with the comments of the concerned Government or authority, if any, and the action taken or proposed to be taken by the concerned Government or authority on the recommendations of the Commission.

19. Procedure with respect to armed forces

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, while dealing with complaints of violation of human rights by members of the armed forces, the Commission shall adopt the following procedure, namely:

(a)     it may, either on its own motion or on receipt of a petition, seek a report from the Central Government;

(b)     after the receipt of the report, it may, either not proceed with the complaint or, as the case may be, make its recommendations to that Government.

(2)     The Central Government shall inform the Commission of the action taken on the recommendations within three months or such further time as the Commission may allow.

(3)     The Commission shall publish its report together with its recommendations made to the Central Government and the action taken by that Government on such recommendations.

(4)     The Commission shall provide a copy of the report published under sub-section (3) to the petitioner or his representative.

20. Annual and special reports of the Commissio 

(1)     The Commission shall submit an annual report to the Central Government and to the State Government concerned and may at any time submit special reports on any matter which, in its opinion, is of such urgency or importance that it should not be deferred till submission of the annual report.

(2)     The Central Government and the State Government, as the case may be, shall cause the annual and special reports of the Commission to be laid before each House of Parliament or the State Legislature respectively, as the case may be, along with a memorandum of action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendations of the Commission and the reasons for non-acceptance of the recommendations, if any.