National Commission for Minorities
Encyclopedia
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.http://ncm.nic.in/
The Commission has the following powers:
The commission also employs other officers as well.
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic 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
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
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.http://ncm.nic.in/
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.”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 HabibullahWajahat HabibullahWajahat Habibullah is Ex Chief Information Commissioner of the Government of India since October 26, 2005. He was an officer of the Indian Administrative Service from 1968 until his retirement in August 2005...
- Chairman
- Dr H.T. SanglianaH. T. SanglianaDr. H. T. Sangliana was a member of the 14th Lok Sabha of India. He represented the Bangalore North constituency of Karnataka from the BJP, but lost the election for 15th Lok Sabha from the same seat but as a member of the Indian National Congress political party.He is a native of the Indian...
- Vice Chairperson
- Harvendra singh Hanspal - Member
- Spalzes Angmo - Member
- Syeda Bilgrami Imam - Member
- Vinod Sharma - Member
The commission also employs other officers as well.