The Delhi High Court has directed the federal government to respond to a petition seeking an explanation for prolonged vacancies in the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), raising concerns over the body’s effectiveness.
On 15 October, a bench led by Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela noted that the posts of commission chairperson, vice-chairperson, and five members remain unfilled, rendering the commission largely inoperative. The judges described these appointments as “very, very important” for the functioning of the body.
The court’s order followed a public interest litigation filed by Mujahid Nafees, convenor of the Minority Coordination Committee, an organisation focused on minority welfare. The petition alleged that the government’s failure to fill key positions violated constitutional safeguards for minority communities.
Established under the National Commission for Minorities Act 1992, the NCM is a quasi-judicial body mandated to protect the rights of religious minority groups in India. However, the commission has remained largely defunct since November 2024, when several members completed their five-year terms. The last chairperson, Iqbal Singh Lalpura, a Sikh and former lawmaker from Punjab, stepped down in April 2025.
Minority leaders welcomed the court’s intervention. Elias Vas, president of the All India Catholic Union, said, “We welcome the step taken by the Delhi court and appreciate the petitioner who took this matter seriously.”
Muhammad Arif, chairman of the Centre for Harmony and Peace, described the commission as “the most important platform” to address minority issues. He warned that its inactivity is a serious concern and urged the government to fill the posts immediately, cautioning that continued delays could give the impression that the body is being abolished.
A.C. Michael, convener of the United Christian Forum, noted that both state and national minority oversight bodies remain largely inactive due to government inaction. He also highlighted that the last five-year term of the NCM did not include a single Christian member. “The concerns of minorities are often overlooked to safeguard the image of the government in power,” he said.
Religious minorities account for approximately 18 per cent of India’s 1.4 billion population. Muslims are the largest minority at 14.2 per cent, followed by Christians (2.3 per cent), Sikhs (1.7 per cent), and smaller communities including Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis).
Under the 1992 Act, the NCM is required to include one member from each of the six notified minority communities - Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, and Jains. The court’s order highlights the urgent need for the government to restore the commission’s full membership to ensure minority rights are properly represented and protected.
Adapted from UCA News.
