Religious and Linguistic Minorities panel gets extension

New Delhi, Oct 27 (UNI) The Union Cabinet today extended the term of the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities for a period of five months beyond October 2006.

The Commission was set up in 2004. Its job was to suggest criteria for identification of socially and economically backward sections among religious and linguistic minorities and to recommend measure for their welfare, including reservation in education and government employment.

It was mandated to suggest necessary constitutional, legal and administrative modalities required for their implementation.

The panel was also asked to give its recommendations on the issues raised in a petition filed in the Supreme Court and in certain High Courts relating to para three of the constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, in the context of ceiling of 50 per cent reservation as also the modalities of inclusion in the list of SCs.

The decision to extend the panel's term was taken by the Cabinet at its meting held here today, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi told newspersons after the meeting.

The extension of the term would enable the Commission to interact effectively with the concerned and concretise its recommendation in a more meaningful manner, he said.

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