Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the amendments to Protection of Human Rights Acts to include mandatory inclusion of a woman and representative of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights in the National Human Rights Commission. The Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi also approved the downsizing of members in the Competition Commission of India (CCI) from six to three.
The amendment to Protection of Human Rights Acts also proposes to enlarge the scope of eligibility and scope of selection of Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission as well as the State Human Rights Commission. "The Amendment will strengthen the Human Rights Institutions of India further for effective discharge of their mandates, roles and responsibilities. Moreover, the amended Act will be in perfect sync with the agreed global standards and benchmarks towards ensuring the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual in the country," said the statement issued by Government, adding that Union Territories will also be covered under the Act.
"It proposes to amend the term of office of Chairperson and Members of National Human Rights Commission and State Human Rights Commission to make it in consonance with the terms of Chairperson and Members of other Commissions," said the statement.
Government termed the decision to "rightsizing" the CCI as pursuance of the Governments objective of "Minimum Government - Maximum Governance". Earlier the CII has six members and a Chairman.