Bill Summary

The National Commission for Homoeopathy (Amendment) Bill, 2021

• The National Commission for Homoeopathy (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was introduced in Lok Sabha on August 9, 2021.  It amends the National Commission for Homoeopathy Act, 2020.
   
• The 2020 Act replaced the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973.  The 1973 Act set up the Central Council of Homeopathy for regulating homoeopathic education and practice.  The 2020 Act replaced the Council with a national commission for regulating homoeopathic education and practice.  Note that the 1973 Act was to be repealed on a date notified by the central government.
   
• Before the 2020 Act was passed, the 1973 Act was amended in 2018 to provide for the reconstitution of the Central Council.  The Central Council was to be reconstituted within a year.  Between 2019 and 2021, this time period was extended from one year to four years.  The 1973 Act was also amended to provide that till the Council was reconstituted, its powers would be exercised by a Board of Governors, constituted by the central government.  Since, setting up of the National Commission was taking time and the Central Council was not reconstituted, the Board continued to function.
   
• The National Commission was constituted on July 5, 2021 to supersede the Central Council and on the same date the 1973 Act was repealed.  The 2021 Bill specifies that all powers exercised and functions performed by the Board of Governors (as under the 1973 Act) will be deemed to have been done under the 2020 Act and will continue to remain in force.