By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
New Delhi: The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) will soon turn into a full-fledged statutory body.
In order to ensure NCM a constitutional status, a bill will be placed in Parliament for discussion during the next session starting from 25th February. According to sources in the Ministry of Minority Affairs and NCM, the bill is being given final shape.
After achieving constitutional status, it will be possible for the commission to take action against any erring government body, organizations or individuals. At presents, the commission has got the right to forward its recommendations to the government but has no right to take any action on non-compliance of its recommendations. For NCM to become a statutory body, however, an amendment in the Constitution will be required. After the amendment, the commission shall enjoy the same status as the SC/ST Commission.
In this connection, a bill was placed in the Parliament in 2004 but it was let to get expired. Mohammad Shafi Qureshi, chairman of the commission, hoped that this time the bill will be passed by the Parliament. The commission will be able to take suo moto action in any case on the basis of reports published in newspapers or to seek services of any government officer or agency after receiving a complaint.