Personal data Bill adopted by JPC
The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on “Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019” met recently under the leadership of MP PP Chaudhary.
Highlights
- Key agenda of the meeting was to consider and adopt the draft report of JPC on the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019.
 - The bill deals with privacy and security of citizen’s personal data.
 - Members of the JPC have been given the deadline of November 24, to submit their dissent.
 - JPC held its last meeting on November 12.
 
About the Bill
- Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 was drafted following a Supreme Court ruling in August 2017, that declared ‘Right to Privacy’ a fundamental right.
 - Cabinet had approved the Bill in December 2019.
 - It aims to provide for protection of privacy of individuals related to their personal data.
 - It also seeks to specify the flow & usage of personal data and create a relationship of trust between entities and persons processing the personal data.
 - Bill will also protect the rights of individuals whose personal data are processed.
 - It will also create a framework for organisational and technical measures to process data.
 - It will also lay down norms for:
 
- Social media intermediary
 - Accountability of entities processing personal data
 - Cross-border transfer
 - Remedies for unauthorised & harmful processing
 - To establish a Data Protection Authority of India.
 
Can State utilise private data of individuals?
According to this law, State can utilise private data of individual, without their consent under following conditions:
- For provision of any service or benefit to data principal from State
 - To issue of any license, certification, or permit for any action
 - Under any law made by Parliament or any State Legislature
 - To comply with any order or judgment of Court or Tribunal in India.
 - To respond any medical emergency that involves a threat to the life.