SC seeks Centre reply over plea on scrapping of minorities panel

ATTORNEY GENERAL KK VENUGOPAL WHO WAS ASKED TO GIVE HIS VIEWS ON THE MATTER TOLD THE COURT TODAY THAT THE ISSUE SHOULD BE HEARD BY A FIVE-JUDGE CONSTITUTION BENCH

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday sought the response of the central government on a petition challenging the constitutional validity of the National Commission for Minorities set up under a 1992 law.

The plea filed by six petitioners, who claimed to be followers of Sanatan Vedic Dharam, alleged that Hindu community is being discriminated against on the grounds of religion as a number of beneficiary schemes carrying a budget of ₹4,700 crores have been initiated in favour of some religious minorities even though the Constitution does not conceive special provisions in the name of any religion.

Attorney General KK Venugopal who was asked to give his views on the matter told the c o urt t o day t hat t he i s s ue involves constitutional questions and should be heard by a five-judge constitution bench.

The court gave the Centre four weeks to respond to the petition and listed the next hearing in March.

The petitioner argued that special benefits and advantages within the sweep of Article 15(4) of the constitution can be provided only to those communities which are found to be ‘socially and educationally backward’ classes of citizens.

No r e l i g i on or r e l i g i ous groups can be promoted using taxpayers money and therefore, no minorities commission can be created.

The petitioner submitted that the Government of India cannot promote “minoritism”, show inclination towards minorities and allure them to flourish by initiating beneficial programs for them.

Such an action will be detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India and give rise to separatists sowing seeds for another division of the nation, the petitioners argued.

“Right to equality, equal protection of law, rule of law and a secular state are basic pillars of Indian Constitution”, the petition stated.

The petitioner has prayed for striking down the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 and to restrain the central government from implementing and spending any money from government funds on schemes designed for minorities.

Under section 2 ( c) of t he National Commission of Minorities Act, 1992, the Centre has notified only five communities – Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhist s a nd Pars i s – a s “minority.”