The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a minor amendment in the Section 3 Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959, protecting offices of the chairperson’s of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes from disqualification under provisions of office of profit.
The erstwhile commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribe was bifurcated in two separate organisations in 2004 by 89th amendment in the Constitution. However, the bifurcation was not reflected in the Prevention of Disqualification Act. As per the approved amendment the offices of chairpersons of NCSC and NCST will be defined separately with retrospective effect so that they do not attract the provisions of the office of profit.