Question : Constitutional Status to NCM

(a) whether 40 years after National Commission for Minorities (NCM) was set up and 25 years after it became a statutory body, the NCM still does not have constitutional status and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(b) whether proposed legislation to grant constitutional status to the NCM is still pending before the Government and if so, the details thereof and the Government’s reaction thereto;
(c) Whether due to lack of constitutional status, the NCM is not able to take necessary action against rising incidents of atrocities against minorities and
(d) if so, the steps taken by the Government to provide constitutional status to the NCM?

MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

(a) to (d) : The matter regarding conferment of Constitutional status to National Commission for Minorities (NCM) was earlier considered in this Ministry. The Constitution (One Hundred and Third Amendment) Bill to confer constitutional status to NCM was introduced in the Lok Sabha in December, 2004. However, it was decided to close the proposal for grant of Constitutional Status to NCM.

The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) takes appropriate action as per provisions of National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 and procedure adopted. As mandated under Section 9 of the NCM Act, 1992, the Commission has been taking up cases regarding violation of rights and safeguards of the minorities with the concerned authorities in the State Governments and Central Government as and when they are brought to the notice of the Commission. The Commission also takes suo-moto cognizance of cases of any violence against the minorities including visits to affected areas. The number of complaints from minorities received by the NCM have progressively reduced from 2638 in 2013-14 to 1498 in 2017-18. The NCM is committed to various constitutional and statutory provisions relating to safeguarding the interest of minorities in India.
*******