Haryana Vidhan Sabha passes State Commission for SC Bill, 2018

The Haryana Legislative Assembly passed the Haryana State Commission for Scheduled Castes Bill, 2018, for development and safeguarding the interests of people belonging to the Scheduled community. The bill was passed on the last day of the state assembly’s session.

Objective :

The Haryana State Commission for Scheduled Castes Bill, 2018, has been passed to set up a commission for scheduled castes in the state for the overall development and welfare of the community and to safeguard their interests.
The commission would also check and curb the atrocities committed on the people belonging to the scheduled caste community.

State Commission for Scheduled Castes :

Key Duties of Commission :

• The commission will investigate and examine the working of various safeguards provided in the constitution or under any other law or under any order of the government for the welfare and protection of the scheduled castes.
• It will also inquire into specific complaints regarding the violation of rights of the SCs and take such matter to the appropriate authorities.
• It will also participate and advise on the planning process of the socio-economic development of the SCs and evaluate the progress of their development as per the Bill.

Powers of Commission :

• The commission will enjoy similar powers as that of a civil court. It will have the power of summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person from any part of India and examining him on oath as per the Bill.

Term & Composition of Commission :

• The commission would consist of a chairperson, vice-chairperson and members who would hold office for a term of three years.

Other Bills Passed in Assembly :

Punjab Land Improvement Schemes (Haryana Amendment) Bill, 2018 :

• The Haryana Legislative Assembly has also passed the Punjab Land Improvement Schemes (Haryana Amendment) Bill, 2018, which aims to facilitate farmers for laying out an underground pipeline for irrigation purposes passing through the fields of other farmers.
• The legislation is significant, as, in some areas of the state, underground water is brackish in nature or quality and is not fit for irrigation.
• Thus, irrigation efficiency can be achieved through supply of underground pipeline based irrigation water to the fields as per Bill.

Factories (Haryana Amendment) Bill, 2018 :

• The Factories (Haryana Amendment) Bill, 2018 has been passed for ensuring benefits to the workers and the factories both.
• As per the amendment, small scale industries, which are having 20 number of workers with the aid of power and 40 number of workers without the aid of power to be exempted from the definition of the Factories Act, 1948.
• Similarly, amendment in the act has been made to increase the overtime working hours from 75 to 115 so that the factories may achieve their targets and fulfil the orders as per the Bill.
• Another amendment has been made to allow the women workers to work in the factories in night shifts which is between 7 pm to 6 am, provided these factories have adequate safety and security measures as per the state government rules and regulations.

The Haryana Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2018,Indian Stamp (Haryana Amendment) Bill, 2018, Haryana Goods and Services Tax (Haryana Amendment) Bill, 2018,Haryana Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2018, among others, were also passed by the Vidhan Sabha.

By: Harman Sandhu