2019 AMENDMENT ACT‌

The various provisions or features of the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2019, are as follows:

1. It provided that a person who has been a judge of the Supreme Court is also made eligible to be appointed as Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (in addition to the person who has been the Chief Justice of India).

2. It increased the number of members of the National Human Rights Commission (who are to be appointed from amongst persons having knowledge or practical experience with respect to human rights) from two to three out of which at least one has to be a woman.

3. It made the chairpersons of the National Commission for BCs and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights as well as the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities as the exofficio members of the National Human Rights Commission.

4. It reduced the term of the chairperson of members of the National Human Rights Commission as well as the State Human Rights Commission from five to three years. It also made them eligible for re-appointment.

5. It provided that a person who has been a judge of a High Court is also made eligible to be appointed as Chairperson of the State Human Rights Commission (in addition to the person who has been the Chief Justice of a High Court).

6. It provided that the central government may confer upon the State Human Rights Commissions the functions relating to human rights being discharged by the union territories, except the union territory of Delhi. The functions relating to human rights in case of union territory of Delhi are to be dealt with by the National Human Rights Commission.

7. It provided that the Secretary-General of the National Human Rights Commission shall exercise all administrative and financial powers (except judicial functions and the power to make regulations), subject to control of the chairperson.

8. It provided that the Secretary of the State Human Rights Commission shall exercise all administrative and financial powers of the Commission, subject to control of the chairperson.