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Constitutional rights of minorities suppressed: NCM

The constitutional rights of minorities to 'establish and administer educational institutions of their choice' have been systematically suppressed and rendered ineffective over the years leading to their educational backwardness, according to the National Commission for Minorities.

In its report, 'Educational and socio-economic problems of the minorities in India', the Commission says the gradual dilution and suppression of the rights guaranteed by Article 30 of the Constitution is 'the biggest reason' for the 'total lack of educational development of the minorities'.

''An effective restoration of Article 30 in letter and spirit is an absolute imperative,'' for all-round development of the minorities with emphasis on their educational promotion.

The Commission proposes setting up a 'minority educational institution commission' for the purpose and suggests that all minority professional institutions be provided direct affiliation to the central universities.

NCM member James Massey, who is chairman of the commission's high-powered committee on the issue, says they have recommended to the central government that it should enact a law giving directions to the states on the implementation of Article 30. The Article mandates that all national minorities have the right to establish their educational institutions and impart instruction in their mother tongue on the basis of their religion and culture.

The article also recognises their rights for the acquisition of property for educational institutions.

Dr Massey alleged that minority educational institutions were subjected to executive regulations, denied affiliations by universities on one or other pretext, and encountered hurdles in the acquisition of property. He added that minority educational rights were deliberately confused and made to clash with the rights of scheduled castes and tribes.

UNI

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