Question : CONSTITUTIONAL STATUS TO OBC COMMISSION

(a) whether the Government has any proposal of giving constitutional status to the Other Backward Classes Commission on the lines of other national commissions and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether any body/organization has given any recommendation in this regard and if so, the action taken by the Government thereon;

(c) whether no review of reservation policy takes place as the National Commission has not got the Constitutional status and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;

(d) whether there is any institution other than the commission at national level for the redressal of the grievances of the Government employees belonging to Other Backward Classes; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI KRISHAN PAL GURJAR)

(a): Yes, Sir. A proposal to give constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes is in process in the Ministry.

(b): Yes, Sir. The Parliamentary Committee for Welfare of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) has recommended for grant the constitutional status to NCBC, which is under consideration of the Government.

(c): As per Section 11(1) of the NCBC Act, the Central Government may at any time, and shall, at the expiration of ten years from the coming into force of this Act and every succeeding period of ten years thereafter, undertake revision of the lists with a view to excluding from such lists those classes who have ceased to be backward classes or for including in such lists new backward classes.

(d): Yes.

(e): As per terms of Clause 10 of Article 338 of the Constitution, National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) is empowered to look into the grievances related to Other Backward Classes.