- National Commission for Minorities
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Republic of India
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The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) is a body constituted by the Government of India to monitor and evaluate the progress of people classified as minorities by the Indian government. Essentially the minorities in India consist of followers of all religions other than Hinduism and weaker sections in the Hindu community. The Commission is also referred to as the Minority Commission. It was formed as a result of an act of the Indian Parliament in 1993.[1]
Contents
UN Declaration
The NCM adheres to the UN Declaration of 18 December 1992 which states that "“States shall protect the existence of the National or Ethnic, Cultural, Religious and Linguistic identity of minorities within their respective territories and encourage conditions for the promotion of that identity.” [1]
Functions and powers
The Commission has the following functions:
- 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 Governments 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.
The Commission has the following powers:
- 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.
Current Commission
The current commission constituted in 2010 (sixth to date) consists of:
- Wajahat Habibullah - Chairman
- Dr H.T. Sangliana - Vice Chairperson
- Harvendra singh Hanspal - Member
- Spalzes Angmo - Member
- Syeda Bilgrami Imam - Member
- Vinod Sharma - Member
The commission also employs other officers as well.
References
External links
- 2268 complaints to National Commission for Minorities - TCN News
- Handbook of the commission
- G. Mahajan Negotiating Cultural Diversity and Minority Rights in India
States and territories of India States Union Territories Categories:- Government stubs
- Indian commissions
- Minority rights
- Politics of India
- 1993 establishments in India
- Executive branch of the Indian government
- Government of India
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