I. Parliament Passed the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2019:

The Rajya Sabha has passed the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2019, unanimously as on 22^nd of July 2019. The said Bill amends the following sections of The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, namely, Sections 2, 3, 6, 21 and 24.

Talking about the selection process for the Chairperson and Members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Shri Amit Shah clarified that the selection committee was a diverse one, containing opposition leaders from both the houses in addition to the Prime Minister; Union Home Minister; Speaker, Lok Sabha and Deputy Chairperson, Rajya Sabha. A decision of such a vast and diverse committee should not be seen with distrust, said Shri Amit Shah.

The NHRC has proposed certain amendments to the Act to address the concerns raised at certain global platforms. Besides this, certain State Governments have also proposed for amendment of the Act, as they have been facing difficulties in finding suitable candidates to the post of Chairperson of the respective State Commissions owing to the existing eligibility criteria to the said post.

II. Salient Features of the Bill:

1. that a person who has been a Judge of the Supreme Court is also made eligible to be appointed as Chairperson of the Commission in addition to the person who has been the Chief Justice of India (amendment of sec 3);
2. to increase the Members of the Commission from two to three of which, one shall be a woman (amendment of sec 3);
3. to include Chairperson of the National Commission for Backward Classes, Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities as deemed Members of the Commission (amendment of sec 3);
4. to reduce the term of the Chairperson and Members of the Commission and the State Commissions from five to three years and shall be eligible for re-appointment (amendment of sec 6);
5. to provide that a person who has been a Judge of a High Court is also made eligible to be appointed as Chairperson of the State Commission in addition to the person who has been the Chief Justice of the High Court; and (amendment of sec 21),
6. to confer upon State Commissions, the functions relating to human rights being discharged by the Union territories, other than the Union territory of Delhi, which will be dealt with by the Commission (amendment of sec 21, Insertion of new sub-section, i.e., sub-sec (7)).

III. Click here to download the bill:

 IV. Read the bill:

Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2019