(a) whether the Supreme Court of India has directed the Union Government that the
notified list of minorities in the country be kept to a bare minimum and should
ultimately be done away with;
(b) if so, details thereof and the reaction of the Union Government thereto; and
(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Union Government to implement the
directives?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT (SMT. SUBBULAKSHMI JAGADEESAN)
(a) & (b) Yes, Sir. In the case of Bal Patil & Another Versus Union of India and Others
relating to inclusion of `Jains` in the list of Minorities Communities notified by the Union
Government, the Supreme Court of India inter-alia made the observation that the
Commission instead of encouraging claims from different communities for being added
to a list of notified minorities under the National Commission for Minorities Act 1992
should suggest ways and means to help create social conditions where the list of notified
minorities is gradually reduced and done away altogether. The Ministry has taken note of
the observation made by the Supreme Court.
(c) The Government is already implementing various Schemes for socio-economic
development of backward sections of the minorities keeping that in view.