Lok Sabha Passes Protection Of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill [Read Bill]

The Lok Sabha on Friday passed the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill 2019.

The Bill amends the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993 to provide that a person who has been Chief Justice of India, or a Judge of the Supreme Court will be the chairperson of the NHRC. As per the Act, only a person who has been the Chief Justice of India can be made the NHRC chairperson.

Likewise, the amendment proposes to enable any person who has been a judge of a High Court to be the chairperson of SHRC.

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.  

The Bill reduces the term of office of chairpersons and members of NHRC and SHRC to three years or till the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier. The Bill also allows for the reappointment of chairpersons of the NHRC and SHRCs. The Act states that the chairperson and members of the NHRC and SHRC will hold office for five years or till the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier. 

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