The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed a bill that makes discrimination against HIV-positive people punishable and protects their rights to jobs, education and treatment. The bill also restricts employers and educational institutions from forcing people to undergo HIV tests for employment and education, respectively.

Former  health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had introduced the bill in the Rajya Sabha on February 11, 2014, but the bill couldn't be taken up as later, the Lok Sabha was dissolved  and an extension was granted until April 30, 2015. The ministry accepted 10 of the 11 suggestions made by the panel.
 
Section 14 (1) states “The measures to be taken by the central or state governments under section 13 shall include measures for providing, as far as possible, anti-retroviral therapy and opportunistic management to people living with HIV or AIDS.” Some leaders including CPI leader D Raja objected to the use of “as far as possible” and sought an amendment.

Raja was of the opinion that the phrase defeats the purpose of the bill and provides an escape route to state governments who may not want to keep up with their responsibility.

Health Minister J P Nadda assured the House that the government was committed to providing treatment to anyone HIV positive. Only after the assurance from the Health Minister was the proposed law passed.

Nadda informed the House that while making the rules, they would ensure that nobody is denied treatment and they were committed to providing medical treatment to all those living with HIV or AIDS.