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New Delhi:
The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities on Thursday mentioned it has determined to not proceed with a proposal to amend the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 to decriminalise minor offences.
The Finance Ministry final month proposed to decriminalise minor offences, together with these referring to cheque bounce and reimbursement of loans, in as many as 19 legislations.
In line with that, the division below the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry put out a proposal final week on its web site for amendments to the RPwD Act and sought suggestions by July 10.
The DEPwD on Thursday mentioned that through the session course of, it acquired suggestions from numerous stakeholders, majority of whom opined that the prevailing provisions of the RPwD Act, 2016 are acceptable safeguards for PwDs and important for the efficient implementation of the act.
“They were of the view that compounding of offences would dilute the spirit of the said act for protecting and preserving the rights of persons with disabilities,” the DEPwD mentioned in a press release.
“Keeping in view the overall sentiments of the majority of stakeholders, the department is now of the considered view, that going ahead with the proposed amendment for compounding of offences may not be in the interest of persons with disabilities,” it mentioned.
Therefore, it has been determined that there’s adequate floor to shut the session course of and to not pursue the proposed modification to the RPwD Act, 2016, it added.
The proposal had evoked sharp response from activists and civil rights our bodies who noticed it as a method to dilute the laws.
In a joint assertion, round 125 incapacity rights organisations, civil society organisations and activists final week mentioned they unequivocally register their robust protest towards the proposal to “dilute and nullify” penal provisions contained within the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
They mentioned the federal government was proposing to “drastically alter the very nature of the act”.
The DEPwD had proposed amendments to RPwD Act below provisions 89, 92(a) and 93 and advised insertion of a brand new part 95A within the act.
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