New Delhi: The Union government has failed to disclose whether it acted upon any recommendations made by the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) in the past decade. The revelation came through a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by transparency activist Anjali Bhardwaj.
In response to the RTI request, the Ministry of Minority Affairs stated that it does not maintain a centralized record of actions taken on NCM recommendations. Instead, it advised the applicant to approach individual ministries that might have received specific recommendations. This admission has raised serious concerns over transparency and accountability in handling issues that affect India’s religious minorities.
The NCM, established under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, is mandated to protect the rights of religious minorities and advise the government on related policy matters. It investigates complaints, reviews policies, and recommends corrective measures. However, the absence of a system to track government responses to these recommendations undermines the purpose of the Commission and weakens institutional oversight.
Over the years, the NCM has addressed matters such as the protection of religious sites, hate speech, communal violence, education, and minority representation in government bodies. Activists argue that the lack of official follow-up reflects the Centre’s apathy toward the concerns of minority communities.
Experts warn that the government’s failure to maintain such records contradicts the principles of transparency laid down by the RTI Act. It also questions whether the NCM’s work is being taken seriously by the very institutions it was meant to guide.
