By IANS New Delhi : The union cabinet, presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Thursday decided to move amendments to give the National Commission for Minorities greater powers to probe complaints of denial of minority rights.
The government will move amendments to the Constitution (103rd Amendment) Bill, 2004, and the National Commission for Minorities (Repeal) Bill, 2004, in the current budget session of parliament for consideration and passage.
Detailing the decisions of the cabinet, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said: "These amendments would infuse a greater sense of confidence among the minorities." The other constitutional bodies like the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes have certain powers of investigations not yet available to the National Commission for Minorities.
They have the power to investigate into all matters concerning the constitutional and legal safeguards provided to the SCs and STs by the government. They also have the power of inquiry into specific complaints with respect to deprivation of rights and safeguards of SCs/STs.