(a) whether it is a fact that the Commission for minorities wanted the Hindus
to be given Minority status in States like Kashmir;
(b) if so, the reasons for not including Hindus in miniority list in some of the
North Eastern States where too they are in minority; and
(c) the number of States where the Government had disbanded the Minority
Commission and the reasons thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND
EMPOWERMENT
SMT. MANEKA GANDHI
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) The question as to who constitutes a minority is sub-judice under a Writ
Petition in the Hon`ble Supreme Court. The further action on provision of
minority status will be taken based on the decision of the Supreme Court.
(c) (I ) The Maharashtra State Minorities Commission was established
through a State Government Resolution of 17th February, 1992 with a
tenure of 3 years for its Chairman/Members. Through a subsequent
Government Resolution issued in June, 1995 the Government of
Maharashtra did not reconstitute the State Minority Commission on the
ground that as per its policy all citizens are equal and there should not be
any discrimination of Minority-Majority. By virtue of this resolution of
June, 1995, State Minority Commission was not reconstituted
subsequently.
(ii)The Government of Uttar Pradesh amended the Uttar Pradesh
Commission for Minorities Act 1994 to reduce the tenure of Chairman and
Members of the Commission from 3 years to one year which came into
effect from 10.5.99. This was also applied to the then existing
Commission, which had already completed year of their tenure. The
Government of U.P. have not reconstituted the Commission since then.