Delhi High Court Urges Central Government to Address Vacancies in National Minority Commission
On Wednesday, the Delhi High Court requested the central government to clarify its stance regarding a petition that raises concerns about vacancies, including the chairperson position, within the National Minority Commission. The court emphasized the significance of this matter. Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela were informed that the chairperson's position has been vacant since April 22, following the end of the previous official's term.
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A lawyer representing the central government requested additional time to receive instructions from officials. In response, the bench urged that the case should progress without delay, stating, 'Please ensure that this matter moves forward. Do not wait for the next date. This is very important.' The court was hearing a public interest petition filed by Mujahid Nafees, who claims to be the coordinator of the Minority Coordination Committee. The petition alleges that due to the government's severe failure to appoint the chairperson, vice-chairperson, and all five members of the NCM, the commission has become entirely and systematically ineffective. It further claims that this negligence by the executive has rendered a crucial statutory body, established by an act of Parliament for the protection and welfare of India's notified minority communities, completely inactive and leaderless.
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The petition requests that the central government, through the Ministry of Minority Affairs, initiate and complete the appointment process for the chairperson, vice-chairperson, and five members of the NCM as per the National Minority Commission Act. It also demands that this appointment process be conducted transparently and within a specified timeframe, ideally within four weeks from the date of the court's order.