Thumps and stumps together, five amendments and two new bills make their position in Lok Sabha today

New Delhi, July 8: Amidst loud thumping in the lower house of parliament, the NDA-led government today introduced a total of 5 amendment bills, while a couple of new bills were tabled.

 

MHA Amit Shah introduced three amendment Bills, being the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2019, the National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2019.

 

Further, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri tabled the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Amendment Bill, 2019, while MP Prahlad Singh Patel introduced the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019. Here are some details of the bills instigated today :

 

 

The Bill regulates the use of DNA technology for establishing the identity of persons in respect of matters listed in a Schedule. These include criminal matters such as offences under the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and civil matters such as parentage disputes, emigration or immigration, and transplantation of human organs.

 

It provides for the removal of DNA profiles of suspects on filing of a police report or court order, and of under trials on the basis of a court order.

 

 

The Bill amends the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 to make it more effective in preventing unlawful activities and meet commitments made at the Financial Action Task Force (an intergovernmental organization to combat money laundering and terrorism financing).

 

The Bill inserts new sections to include offences by companies, societies or trusts. Every person who, at the time of the offence, was responsible for the conduct of the business shall be punishable with imprisonment for seven or more years and a fine between five to ten crore rupees

 

 

The Bill replaces the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. The Bill enforces consumer rights, and provides a mechanism for redressal of complaints regarding defect in goods and deficiency in services.

 

Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions will be set up at the District, State and National levels for adjudicating consumer complaints. Appeals from the District and State Commissions will be heard at the next level and from the National Commission by the Supreme Court.

 

 

Amending the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Act, 1951, the bill provides for the erection of a National Memorial in memory of those killed or wounded on April 13, 1919, in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar. In addition, it creates a Trust to manage the National Memorial.

 

It further provides that the three eminent persons nominated by the central government will have a term of five years and will be eligible for re-nomination. The Bill adds a proviso to allow the central government to terminate the term of a nominated trustee before the expiry of his term without assigning any reason.

 

 

Being introduced in Lok Sabha by Prakash Javadekar in year 2019, the Bill seeks to amend the Central Universities Act, 2009, which establishes universities for teaching and research in various states.

 

The Bill provides for the establishment of two central universities in Andhra Pradesh to be known as the Central University of Andhra Pradesh and the Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh. The Central Tribal University will take additional measures to provide higher educational and research facilities in tribal art, culture, and customs primarily to the tribal population of India.