Lok Sabha passes Protection of Human rights (Amendment) Bill 2019

The Lok Sabha has passed the Protection of Human rights (Amendment) Bill 2019, according to media reports.

The bill was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Amit Shah, on July 8, 2019. It amends the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. The Act provides for a National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), State Human Rights Commissions (SHRC), as well as Human Rights Courts.

The 1993 Act says the chairperson of NHRC can be only a former Chief Justice of Supreme Court but he bill stipulates that a former Supreme Court Judge can also become the chairperson of the NHRC.

The Act provides for two persons having knowledge of human rights to be appointed as members of the NHRC. The Bill amends this to allow three members to be appointed, of which at least one will be a woman.

Under the Act, chairpersons of various commissions such as the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, and National Commission for Women are members of the NHRC. The Bill provides for including the chairpersons of the National Commission for Backward Classes, the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights, and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities as members of the NHRC.