Human Rights, Protective Laws, RTI, Consumer, IT, Environment & Anti-Corruption Statutes — CGPSC GS Paper V, Part 1
Weightage: Part 1 of GS Paper V is Welfare, Development Programmes and Laws. It names social legislation, human-rights protection, women's protection under the criminal law, domestic violence, the SC and ST atrocities law, the Right to Information, environmental and consumer protection, IT laws and the prevention of corruption, and then Chhattisgarh's own laws and schemes. Give each Act as year, purpose, machinery and one limitation, and check section numbers and amendments against the bare Act.
1. Human rights
The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 (amended in 2019) created the National Human Rights Commission and State Human Rights Commissions. The Commission inquires into violations by public servants, visits jails and recommends compensation, but its recommendations are not binding.
Chhattisgarh's own Human Rights Commission became functional in April 2001. The Act also provides for human rights courts at the district level.
2. Protection of women
| Law | Year | Purpose and machinery |
|---|---|---|
| Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) | 2023, in force 1 July 2024 | Criminalises sexual offences, dowry death, cruelty by husband or relatives, stalking, voyeurism and acid attack |
| Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act | 2005 | Civil remedies: protection orders, residence and monetary relief through Protection Officers and magistrates |
| Dowry Prohibition Act | 1961 | Bans giving and taking dowry; works with the BNS provision on dowry death |
| Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (POSH) Act | 2013 | Internal Committees in workplaces and Local Committees at the district level |
The BNS replaced the Indian Penal Code from 1 July 2024. Its chapter on offences against women and children includes rape (Sections 63 and 64), dowry death (Section 80) and cruelty by a husband or relatives (Section 85). Verify the section and penalty against the Act.
The Domestic Violence Act, 2005 is civil in nature and broader than the criminal law, since it covers women in a shared household, including partners and relatives, and includes economic and emotional abuse.
3. Protection of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 lists offences such as forced eviction, social boycott and humiliation, and provides special courts and relief and rehabilitation for victims. It was strengthened by an amendment in 2015 that added new offences and exclusive special courts.
In 2018, Parliament restored the provisions on immediate registration and no anticipatory bail, after a Supreme Court ruling in that year had introduced a preliminary enquiry. Conviction rates and delays remain a concern.
4. Right to Information
The RTI Act, 2005 gives every citizen the right to seek information from public authorities.
- Machinery: a Public Information Officer, a first appellate authority, then the Central or State Information Commission.
- Timeline: 30 days, and 48 hours where the information concerns life or liberty.
- Exemptions: Section 8, including national security and personal information, and Section 24 excludes certain security organisations.
- Recent changes: an amendment in 2019 gave the Centre control over the tenure and salaries of Information Commissioners, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 changed the personal-information exemption. Confirm the current wording.
5. Environment and consumers
| Law | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Wildlife (Protection) Act | 1972 | Protected areas and species schedules |
| Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act | 1974 | Pollution control boards |
| Forest (Conservation) Act | 1980 | Now the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam after the 2023 amendment |
| Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act | 1981 | Air quality standards |
| Environment (Protection) Act | 1986 | The umbrella law |
| Biological Diversity Act | 2002 | Access and benefit sharing |
| National Green Tribunal Act | 2010 | Specialised environmental tribunal |
| Forest Rights Act | 2006 | Recognises forest dwellers' rights |
The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 replaced the 1986 Act. It created the Central Consumer Protection Authority, product liability and rules on misleading advertisements and e-commerce. Disputes go to three tiers: District, State and National Commissions, divided by the value of the claim. The pecuniary limits were set by rules, so confirm the current figures.
6. Information technology laws
The Information Technology Act, 2000 (amended in 2008) recognises electronic records and signatures and defines cyber offences: hacking, identity theft and cheating by personation, breach of privacy, and publishing obscene material.
- Section 66A, which punished offensive online messages, was struck down in 2015 in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India as violating free speech.
- Section 79 gives intermediaries a safe harbour if they observe due diligence.
- CERT-In is the national agency for cyber incidents.
The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 regulates the processing of personal data and creates a Data Protection Board. Its rules have been phased in, so check the current position.
7. Prevention of corruption
The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, amended in 2018, made giving a bribe an offence and required prior approval to inquire into a public servant's decisions (Section 17A). The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 created an ombudsman at the Centre and in states, and the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014 was passed but is not fully operationalised. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 and the Benami Transactions Act target proceeds of corruption.
Chhattisgarh's own institutions include the Lokayog under the Chhattisgarh Lok Ayog Act, 2002, and the Lok Sewa Guarantee Act, 2011, which reduces the room for petty corruption by fixing time limits for services.
8. Chhattisgarh's own laws
Beyond those above, state laws frequently asked include the Food Security Act (2012), the Tonhi Pratadna Nivaran Act (2005) against witch-branding, and the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act (2005), which allows the state to declare organisations unlawful and which civil-liberties groups have criticised.
Worked example 8.1 (an 8-mark answer, ~100 words). "Explain the significance of the Right to Information Act, 2005."
Model answer. The RTI Act, 2005 gives every citizen a legal right to seek information from public authorities, and it converted secrecy into the exception. Applications go to a Public Information Officer, with a 30-day limit and 48 hours for matters of life and liberty, and appeals lie to the Information Commission.
Its significance lies in transparency and accountability: it exposes delays and irregularities, empowers ordinary people and supports welfare delivery, such as PDS and pension audits.
Its limits are pendency in commissions, attacks on applicants, exemptions and concern over the 2019 and 2023 amendments.
Common traps CGPSC sets here
- Treating NHRC recommendations as binding. They are recommendatory.
- Saying IPC provisions still apply. The BNS replaced the IPC from 1 July 2024.
- Confusing the civil and criminal remedies for domestic abuse. The 2005 Act is civil, and the BNS provision is criminal.
- Saying Section 66A is in force. It was struck down in 2015.
- Placing the Whistle Blowers Act as fully working. It has been passed but not brought fully into force.
Memory aids
- "93 HR; 05 DV and RTI; 89 SC/ST; 13 POSH and Lokpal; 19 Consumer; 00 IT; 88 Corruption": the year of each Act.
- "30 days, 48 hours": the RTI timelines.
- "66A gone, 79 safe harbour": two IT sections that get asked.
Summary
Eight law families protect rights and clean up governance: the Human Rights Act (1993), women's laws (BNS, DV Act 2005, POSH 2013), the SC and ST Atrocities Act (1989), the RTI Act (2005), environmental laws and the Consumer Protection Act (2019), the IT Act (2000), and anti-corruption laws.
Each has a machinery and a limit. Chhattisgarh adds its own Lokayog, Lok Sewa Guarantee Act, Food Security Act and other state laws.
Exam protocol
- Give each Act as year, purpose, machinery and one limitation.
- Cite section numbers only when sure, and mention the BNS, not the IPC.
- Add one state law or institution to each answer where it fits.
