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No to declaring Minorities, NCM
Why in news
- Responding to a petition,National Commission of Minorities (NCM) refused to declare Hindus a minority communityin States where they are not in majority.
More in news
- The petition was filed
(1) To frame guidelines for identification of minorities at the State level or
(2) Evoking provisions under Section 2(c) of the NCM Act of 1992 to declare Hindus a minority in States where they do not form the majority.
- Sub-committee formed on the issue stated
(1) Section 2(c) of the NCM Act clearly suggests that the commission has no jurisdiction to declare minorities which is to be done by the Central government.
(2) Even the SC in BalPatilvs Union of Indiacase stated that it is not commissions mandate to identify a community as minority.
SC’s interpretation of Constitution on NCM
- Goal of the commissions is to create social conditions where there remains no necessity to shield or protect the rights of minorities.
- The commission to work towards maintaining unity and integrity of India by eliminating the need for identifying communities as majority and minority.
- There will be competing claims for minority status if granted solely based on
(1) Religious thoaughts
(2) Less numerical strength
(3) Lack of health and welfare
(4) Education or power or social rights
About NCM
- Established by the union govt under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
- Six religious communities those are Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jainshave been notified in Gazette of India as minority communities.
- Functions of the Commission
(1) Evaluate the progress of the development of Minorities under the Union and States.
(2) Make recommendations for the effective implementation of safeguards for the protection of the interests of Minorities by the Central Government or the State Governments.
(3) Look into specific complaints regarding deprivation of rights and safeguards of the Minorities and take up such matters with the appropriate authorities.
- Composition
(1) a Chairperson
(2) Vice Chairperson
(3) And five Members to be nominated by the Central Government
Source
The Hindu