The Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2019
- The Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2019, aimed to enhance the inclusivity and effectiveness of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The key amendments proposed in the bill include:
Eligibility of Former Supreme Court Judges:
- Former judges of the Supreme Court of India became eligible for the position of the chairperson of the commission.
- This provision aimed to leverage the experience and expertise of retired Supreme Court judges.
Inclusion of High Court Judges:
- Judges of the High Court were made eligible for the position of the chairperson, alongside the Chief Justice of the High Court.
- This expansion aimed to diversify the pool of qualified individuals for the leadership role.
Increase in Commission Members:
- The number of members in the commission was increased from 2 to 3, with a significant addition being the requirement that at least one member should be a woman.
- This step aimed to promote gender diversity within the commission.
Representation from Diverse Fields:
- The commission was mandated to include chairpersons from key fields such as:
- The National Commission for Backward Classes,
- The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights,
- The Chief Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities, as deemed members.
- This provision aimed to bring a broader perspective to human rights considerations.
Delegation of Human Rights Functions:
- The bill proposed the delegation of Human Rights functions being discharged by the union territories to the state commissions, except for the Human Rights responsibilities for the Union Territory of Delhi.
- This decentralization aimed to ensure a more localized and efficient approach to addressing human rights issues.
