Minority tag for Hindus?

• The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has formed a three-member committee to look into whether Hindus should get minority status in eight states where they are not the dominant religious group.
• The committee will work for three months, talk to advocates — two of members in the committee are lawyers themselves. Once they have submitted the report, the Commission will take a call and make a recommendation to the government.
• According to 2011 Census, Hindus are a minority in eight states. But their minority rights are being siphoned off illegally and arbitrarily to the majority population because neither central nor state governments have notified Hindus as a ‘minority’ under Section 2(c) of National Commission for Minority Act. Therefore, Hindus are being deprived of their basic rights, guaranteed under Articles 25 to 30.

About minorities in India:

• The Union Government set up the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
• Six religious communities, viz; Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains have been notified in Gazette of India as minority communities by the Union Government all over India.

Functions of National Commission for Minorities :

• Evaluate the progress of the development of Minorities under the Union and States.
• Monitor the working of the safeguards provided in the Constitution and in laws enacted by Parliament and the State Legislatures.
• Make recommendations for the effective implementation of safeguards for the protection of the interests of Minorities by the Central Government or the State Governments.
• Look into specific complaints regarding deprivation of rights and safeguards of the Minorities and take up such matters with the appropriate authorities.
• Cause studies to be undertaken into problems arising out of any discrimination against Minorities and recommend measures for their removal.
• Conduct studies, research and analysis on the issues relating to socio-economic and educational development of Minorities.
• Suggest appropriate measures in respect of any Minority to be undertaken by the Central Government or the State Governments.
• Make periodical or special reports to the Central Government on any matter pertaining to Minorities and in particular the difficulties confronted by them.
• Any other matter which may be referred to it by the Central Government.

Powers of National Commission for Minorities:

• Summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person from any part of India and examining him on oath.
• Requiring the discovery and production of any document.
• Receiving evidence on affidavit.
• Requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office.
• Issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses and documents.

By: Vishal