President Signs Off On 4 New Laws, 2 Had Faced Massive Resistance

Delhi Services Bill: At least two of these Bills, now signed into law, drew stiff resistance from opposition parties.

Delhi Services Bill: President Droupadi Murmu today gave assent to four bills. (file)

New Delhi: Four bills that were passed during the turbulent monsoon session of the parliament received today's assent from President Droupadi Murmu. Now that they have been signed into law, the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill.

Two of these Bills, which have since been enacted into law, encountered fierce opposition from the opposition parties.

The INDIA group has voiced strong opposition to the Centre's bill on control of services in the city, which replaces an order that took authority over Delhi's bureaucracy away from the Aam Aadmi Party-led administration. MPs from the opposing alliance had left the chamber when it was put to a vote.

The government's planned rule, which overrides a Supreme Court judgment on who governs bureaucrats in the national capital, was supported by Home Minister Amit Shah.The Supreme Court had decided that the elected government in Delhi is in charge following an eight-year conflict between the Center and the Arvind Kejriwal administration.

"This ordinance makes reference to the Supreme Court's ruling that the legislature has the authority to pass legislation on any matter pertaining to Delhi's National Capital Territory. The center is permitted by the Constitution to enact legislation for Delhi, according to Mr. Shah.

Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, stated that the bill's primary goal was to "enslave" the city's residents before it was enacted.

After a vote in which 131 MPs voted in favor of the law and 102 against it, the Bill was enacted.

A voice vote was used to adopt the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill as opposition members shouted protests on the Manipur problem.By voice voting, the opposition's proposed modifications were rejected in part.

The bill includes a clause that allows for fines of up to $250,000,000 for data breaches in an effort to stop online platforms from misusing people's data.

The measure, according to the opposition, will transform the nation into a surveillance state.Opponents worried that enabling the processing of personal data without agreement in nine broad situations could have negative effects on citizens' fundamental right to privacy.

Concerns have also been raised about exemptions to the state and a disputed phrase that grants some firms extensive exclusions.The Personal Data Protection Bill was earlier submitted by The Centre in 2019, but it was withdrawn last year after being examined by a legislative committee.

Some of the draft law's clauses have raised concerns from the Editors Guild of India, who claimed they could have a negative effect on press freedom. The Guild claimed in a statement that it establishes a supportive environment for the surveillance of citizens, including journalists and their sources.

According to the Guild, the government may request personal information about residents from any public or private body (data fiduciary) under Section 36 of the law, including journalists and their sources.

The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act opens the door to the usage of digital birth certificates, which will eventually serve as the sole reliable age verification and a multipurpose document.

Additionally, it contains rules that permit the use of the birth certificate for obtaining food assistance programs, applying for government jobs, registering marriages, granting driving licenses, and admittance to educational institutions.

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act amends 183 provisions of 42 Acts to decriminalize minor offenses in an effort to facilitate business.

A court prosecution is not required to impose penalties because the Act turns some fines into penalties. Additionally, numerous offenses are no longer punishable by imprisonment.