The Haryana assembly on Tuesday passed 11 Bills including the Haryana State Commission for Minorities Bill for setting up a state minorities commission to provide an institutional arrangement for evaluating the safeguards provided in the Constitution and laws for the protection of minorities.
“The commission with statutory status would infuse confidence among the minority communities about its working and effectiveness. The commission will consist of a chairperson and a vice-chairperson. The main task of the commission shall be to evaluate the progress of the development of minorities in the state, monitor the working of the safeguards provided in the Constitution and in laws enacted for the protection of the interests of minorities, and look into specific complaints regarding deprivation of rights and safeguards of minorities. The commission shall also undertake studies, research and analysis on issues relating to the socio-economic and educational development of minorities and make recommendations for effective implementation of safeguards and for appropriate measures to be undertaken by the state government.
The House passed the Haryana Law Officers (Engagement) Amendment Bill, 2026 to increase the number of law officers. The Haryana Law Officers (Engagement) Act, 2016 was notified on September 14, 2016, with the objective of providing a transparent, fair and objective system for the engagement of law officers in the office of the Haryana advocate general and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Keeping in view the changed scenario and particularly with the implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, under which approximately twenty new offences have been added, imprisonment terms and the amount of fines have been increased for several offences, and provision has also been made for punishment of community service for certain offences, there is a need to increase the number of advocates to be appointed under the proviso to sub-section (3) of Section 6 of the Act, on the basis of special qualifications and experience, from 10 to 15 to deal with cases of a special nature, the Bill said.
The commission will make recommendations to ensure effective implementation of safeguards and laws in Haryana, according to the statement of objects and reasons. It would also carry greater weight with the state government, its departments, boards, corporations, local authorities and other organisations concerned with the welfare and development of minorities,’’ the statement said.
