National Commission for Minorities: Political Science YouTube Lecture Handouts

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  • National Commission for Minorities is a setup to safeguard the rights of Minorities.
  • It is a statutory body.
  • It gives shape to the abstract rights in the constitution.
  • It evaluates and strengthens the system of the country
  • It adheres to the UN Declaration of 18 December 1992 which held that States shall protect the identity of minorities
  • The Indian Constitution does not define the word “Minorities” .
  • To provide equality provisions for Minorities are in Fundamental rights, Directive principles of state policy and Fundamental duties.

Rights and Safeguards of Minorities

Under Part III Fundamental Rights

  • Article 29 - Protecting of interests of Minorities
  • Article 30 - Rights of Minorities to establish and administer educational institutions

Under Part XVII Official Language

  • Article 347 - Rights of any section of population for language spoken by them
  • Article 350 A - Provision for facilities of instruction in mother tongue
  • Article 350 B - Provisioning a special officer for linguistic Minorities and defining his duties

Establishment of the Commission

  • In 1960 Minorities Commission was established in Lucknow.
  • In 1977 Janata Government headed by Moraji desai decided to set up the Commission for protecting the interests of Minorities
  • In 1978, Minorities commission was setup by an executive resolution of the Government of India.
  • It was given statutory status by National Commission for minorities Act 1992.
  • In 1993 the National Commission for Minorities and first statutory commission was constituted
  • The act defines Muslims, Christian, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis as Minorities
  • In 2014 Jain community was added.

Composition of the Commission

  • It consists of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and five members
  • They are nominated by the Central Government
  • They must belong to a minority community
  • Their Salaries and allowances are prescribed by the Central Government
  • Their office tenure is three years
  • The Chairperson or members can be removed by the Central government
  • The Chairman of the Commission is also the Ex Officio Member of National Human Rights Commission.

Functions of the Commission

  • To evaluate progress of Minorities
  • To monitor the working of safeguards for Minorities
  • To make effective implementation of safeguards
  • To look into complaints by minorities
  • Recommend measures for removal of discrimination
  • To look into educational development of Minorities
  • To suggest measures to the Government
  • To make reports on difficulties faced by Minorities
  • To look into matter referred by the Central Government
  • The National Commission for Minorities has the power of a civil court as it can summon or enforce any person for examination and look public records from any office
  • It presents Annual Report to the Central Government
  • The central Government place the Commission reports before the Parliament՚s both houses.
  • When required the Commission also submits a copy of the report to the State Government
  • The State Government place the report before the concerned State Legislature
  • The Commission depends on the Government for its recommendations to get implemented
  • The Commission functions to with a limited role

Mayank