Delhi Services, Data Protection Bills Become Laws After President Droupadi Murmu's Nod

On Saturday President Droupadi Murmu gave her nod to four bills for them to become law. The bills include

1. The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill,
2. The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill,
3. The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, and
4. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill

The legislations that become operational are:

1. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023;
2. The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023;
3. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023;
4. The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023;
5. The Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Act, 2023;
6. The National Dental Commission Act, 2023 and
7. The Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023.

Despite severe opposition the?Delhi Ordinance Bill?and the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill were passed in Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha by voice vote.?

1. The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023;

The Delhi services bill that gives the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic?Alliance?(NDA) government the charge of the national capital's bureaucracy had received severe opposition from the INDIA bloc.?

The ordinance was introduced shortly after the Supreme Court ruled that Delhi's elected government has control over services except in matters of law and order, police, and land.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah?had defended the bill in the parliament and said the bill was necessary to ‘curb the corruption’ of the Kejriwal government'.He said that it does not violate the top court's order. The order itself affirms that the Parliament has all the rights to pass laws regarding the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

2. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023;

The second, the?Digital Personal Data Protection Bill?was passed in the Parliament amid loud sloganeering by the Opposition MPs over Manipur ethnic violence.

This bill outlines rules for private companies that collect data online, except for government and law enforcement agencies. Under this law, entities that misuse or fail to safeguard individuals' digital data can face penalties of up to??250 crore. The bill also states that children's data can be processed with consent from their guardians. The bill defines 'personal data' broadly, covering information that identifies an individual, and 'digital personal data' refers to personal data in digital form.

The Opposition had stated that the bill would give the?Prime Minster Narendra Modi-led central government the status of being surveillant. They also argued that the bill could have serious implication on the fundamental right to privacy of Indian residents.?

3. The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023

The third, the?Registration of Births and Deaths?(Amendment) Act enables digital birth certificates - thereby making it the only conclusive age proof and can be used as a single document for numerous purposes.

This digital birth certificate will now be valid document for admission to educational institutions, for issuance of driving license, registration of marriage, and appointment to a government job.

4. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023

The fourth, the?Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act?seeks to promote ease of business by decriminalising minor offences through amendments in 183 provisions of 42 Acts.

The Act converts several fines to penalties, meaning that court prosecution is not necessary to administer punishments. It also removes imprisonment as a punishment for many offences, reported?NDTV.?