Budget 2020: Amendment in Benami Act – Changes in eligibility criteria of Chairperson and Members

Benami - Act - Budget 2020 - Taxscan

The Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the union budget on Saturday has proposed an amendment in the qualifications for appointment of Chairperson and Members of the Adjudicating Authority established as per the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act(BPTA), 1988, Benami Act

The Government has a proposed amendment in:

“Section 9, sub-section (1), for clause (b), the following clause shall be substituted with effect from 15 the 1st day of April 2020, namely:–– 

“(b)(i) has been a member of the Indian Legal Service and has held the post of Joint Secretary or equivalent post in that Service; or 

(ii) is qualified for appointment as District Judge.”.

Earlier the eligibility clause was only:

“(b) has been a member of the Indian Legal Service and has held the post of Joint Secretary or equivalent post in that Service.”

The government is optimistic that this change will open job opportunities to law graduates who have qualified district judge examinations while also improving the quality of functioning of the Adjudicating Authority.

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