Recent Plea:
- The lawyer, in his plea, said, the term minority needed to be redefined and reconsidered in the context of population of a community in a state, instead of nationwide population data.
- Arguments sighted in petition:
- Hindus, who are a majority community as per national data, are a minority in several north-eastern states and in Jammu and Kashmir.
- Hindu community is deprived of benefits which are available to the minority communities in these states, hence NCM should reconsider the definition of minority.
National Commission for Minorities:
- Background:
- In 1978, Government of India, vide an executive order, set up a "Minorities Commission" to safeguard the interests of minorities.
- With the enactment of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, the Minorities Commission became a statutory body and was renamed as the "National Commission for Minorities".
- Functions:
- To evaluate the progress of the developmental programs and legal & constitutional safeguards for the welfare of minorities.
- To Look into specific complaints regarding deprivation of the rights of minorities.
- To undertake studies/research on the issues relating to socio economic development of minorities.
- Composition: It consists of a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson and five Members to be nominated by the Central Government from amongst persons of eminence, ability and integrity.