National Commision for Minorites

The Union Government set up the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. Five religious communities, viz; Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis) have been notified as minority communities by the Union Government. Further vide notification detail 27th Jan 2014, Jains have also been notified as minority community. The Commission has one Chairperson and six Members represented five minority communities. At present Chairperson is Naseem Ahmad and the post of Vice Chairperson is vacant. Dr. Ajaib Singh, Shri Tsering Namgyal Shanoo, Prof. Farida Abdulla Khan, Ms. Mabel Rebello, Capt. Praveen Davar and Sh. Dadi E. Mistry are the present Members.

Andhra Pradesh , Assam , Bihar, Chattisgarh, Delhi , Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have also set up State Minorities Commissions in their respective States. Their offices are located in the State capitals. The functions of these Commissions, inter-alia, are to safeguard and protect the interests of minorities provided in the Constitution and laws enacted by Parliament and the State Legislatures.

Aggrieved persons belonging to the minority communities may approach the concerned State Minorities Commissions for redressal of their grievances. They may also send their representations, to the National Commission for Minorities, after exhausting all remedies available to th Functions of the Commission.-

The Commission shall perform all or any of the following functions, namely:-

Evaluate the progress of the development of Minorities under the Union and States.
monitor the working of the safeguards provided in the Constitution and in laws enacted by Parliament and the State Legislatures.
Make recommendations for the effective implementation of safeguards for the protection of the interests of Minorities by the Central Government or the State Governments.
Look into specific complaints regarding deprivation of rights and safeguards of the Minorities and take up such matters with the appropriate authorities.
Cause studies to be undertaken into problems arising out of any discrimination against Minorities and recommend measures for their removal.
Conduct studies, research and analysis on the issues relating to socio-economic and educational development of Minorities.
Suggest appropriate measures in respect of any Minority to be undertaken by the Central Government or the State Governments.
make periodical or special reports to the Central Government on any matter pertaining to Minorities and in particular the difficulties confronted by them.
Any other matter which may be referred to it by the Central Government.

The Central Government shall cause the recommendations referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (1) to be laid before each House of Parliament along with a memorandum explaining the action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendations relating to the Union and the reasons for the non-acceptance, if any, of any of such recommendations.
Where any recommendation referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (1) or any part thereof is such with which any State Government is concerned, the Commission shall forward a copy of such recommendation or part to such State Government who shall cause it to be laid before the Legislature of the State along with a memorandum explaining the action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendations relating to the State and the reasons for the non-acceptance, if any, of any of such recommendation or part.

The Commission shall, while performing any of the functions mentioned in sub-clauses (a), (b) and (d) of sub-section (1), have all the powers of a civil court trying a suit and, in particular, in respect of the following matters, namely:-
1.Summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person from any part of India and examining him on oath.
2.Requiring the discovery and production of any document.
3.Receiving evidence of affidavits.
4.Requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office.
5.Issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses and documents; and
6.Any other matter which may be prescribed.

Current Commission

The current commission consists of:
Naseem Ahmad(Chairman)
Panni pundome
Sharukh khan
Dr Ajaib Singh – Member
Prof. Farida Abdulla Khan – Member
Ms Mabel Rebello – Member
The commission also employs other officers as well.

National Commission for Minorities
5th Floor,
Lok Nayak Bhavan,
Khan Market,
New Delhi 110 003
Tel. 24615583
Fax 24693302, 24642645, 24698410

Toll Free Number: 1800110088
E-mail: [email protected]