Lok Sabha passes Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill

The Protection of Human Rights(Amendment) Bill 2019 has been passed by voice vote in Lok Sabha yesterday.

In his reply in the House, the minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said that the Government is sensitive to the rights of humanity and is committed to strengthen Human Rights Commission in the country.

He negated the allegation that India’s Human Rights Commission has lost its good grade and informed that it is given ‘A’ grade by the international agency.

Saying that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who suggested to increase the presence of civil Society in the Commission, the minister emphasised that every section of the society has now received representation.

He further added that they are not for Human rights of terrorists and perpetrators of sexual crime but of the victims. He stressed that the amendment has ensured transparency



in the appointment of Chairman and members of the Commission and will help fill all the vacancies. The OBCs and minorities rights, he added, have been protected by the Government.

The minister said that the applicants in Union Territories can now appeal in the human Rights Commission of nearby states instead of coming all the way to Delhi. The amended Act will enable appointment of the retired Chief Justice or retired Judges of the Supreme Court as the Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission. It also provides for appointing three instead of two members from civil society who have knowledge of Human Rights.