Jharkhand Assembly passed the below two bills on August 12, 2017.
i.Jharkhand Assembly Passes Religious Freedom Bill
ii.Jharkhand Assembly passes land acquisition 2013 amendment bill
- About Jharkhand Assembly Passes Religious Freedom Bill
On August 12, 2017, Jharkhand Assembly passed Religious Freedom Bill, 2017 introduced by BJP-led Government. The Bill aims to stop the forced conversions in the state. The bill will now be sent to the Governor. After the approval by Governor, it will be sent to the President for assent.
Key Provisions of Jharkhand Religious Freedom Bill, 2017:
- The Bill has provision for imprisonment of three years and fine of Rs 50,000 or both, and four year- imprisonment and Rs 1 lakh fine, or both, if the person converted is a minor, woman or a member of Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe.
- It also says that a person converting willingly will have to inform the Deputy Commissioner about details such as time, place and the person who administers the conversion proceedings.
2.About Jharkhand Assembly passes land acquisition 2013 amendment bill
On August 12, 2017, Jharkhand Assembly passed amendments to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (also called Land Acquisition Act, 2013).Â
Key Provisions of Land Acquisition 2013 Amendment Bill:
- The amendments pertain to waiving off social impact assessment (SIA) for acquisition by the government for 10 specific purposes.
- Some of the areas in which the SIA requirement has been waived off include schools, colleges and universities; hospitals; panchayat bhavans; housing for poor; railway line and electrification.Â
- The land would be acquired with the consent of the gram sabha concerned and, in scheduled areas, the existing laws under Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act.
- The amendments also provides for compensation to be given within six months.
- It is to be noted that, earlier proposed amendments similar to these in the Chhotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act and Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Act had to be withdrawn amid tremendous opposition.
Quick Facts about Jharkhand State:
Formation Year: 2000
Capital: Ranchi
Current Chief Minister: Raghubar Das
Current Governor: Draupadi Murmu
