Parliament passed bill to provide constitutional status to NCBC: Details, Features

Parliament passes a bill to provide constitutional status to National Commission for Backward Classes: Details, Features, Background

Parliament has passed the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Third Amendment) Bill, 2017 that aims to provide constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).

Now, the bill will be sent to President for his assent (as per 368 of Constitution). Parliament also passed a separate bill to repeal the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993 as it will become irrelevant once Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill comes into force.

Bill Features

The Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill provides for granting of constitutional status to NCBC on par with National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCSTs). It empowers President to specify socially and educationally backward classes in various states and union territories in consultation with Governor of the concerned state.

The bill provides duties of NCBC to investigate and monitor safeguards provided to socially and educationally backward classes backward classes under Constitution and other laws being implemented and probe specific complaints regarding violation of rights.

The bill also provides NCBC with powers of a civil court while probing any complaint against notified socially and educationally backward classes.

Background

The Lok Sabha had on 10 April 2017, passed the legislation and sent it to the Rajya Sabha.

On July 31, 2018, the Upper House had passed the bill after incorporating certain amendments moved by the opposition and returned it to the Lok Sabha for ratification of the amendments.

Among the suggested amendments, the Union government has agreed to appoint one woman member from the backward classes in the NCBC.