The matter of giving minority status to Hindus in 9 states
These days the Supreme Court is hearing a petition seeking minority status for Hindus in 9 states. While hearing this matter on Monday, the court has expressed displeasure with the Central Government for not clearing its stand.
Along with this, the Supreme Court also imposed a fine of seven thousand five hundred (7500) rupees on the central government. In fact, in this case, the central government had asked for 2 more weeks to file a reply. Despite the time given by the court, the Center did not file a reply. In this petition, citing the old decision of the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, it has been requested to direct the identification of minorities at the state level instead of the Center and prepare the data and make guidelines accordingly.
All High Court cases transferred
The petition has also challenged the validity of the National Commission for Minorities Act 1992. The country’s Supreme Court has also transferred to itself the cases challenging the educational institutions and schemes of minorities in the Guwahati, Meghalaya and Delhi High Courts. Because in these petitions the provisions of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions Act 2004 have also been challenged.
During the last hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had sought time to file a reply in view of the impact of the Kovid crisis on the Supreme Court and other institutions. The court had approved this appeal of the central government, while seeking the last extension. But the government did not have an answer even today, so the court got angry and imposed both reprimand and fine.
Demand for minority status to Hindus arose in these states
In this petition filed in the Supreme Court, it has been said that there are 9 states of the country where Hindus are a minority, but they are not getting the benefit of it (being a minority). The petition has referred to the states of Ladakh, Mizoram, Lakshadweep, Kashmir, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab and Manipur, where Hindus are a minority.