Delhi High Court Seeks Centre's Stand On Plea To Fill Vacancies In National Commission For Minorities

The Delhi High Court has sought stand of the Union Government on a plea seeking to fill the vacancies in the National Commission for Minorities, including the Chairperson. Calling the issue “very very important”, a division bench comprising of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela asked the Central Government's counsel to obtain instructions on the vacant posts. The Court was hearing a petition filed by one Mujahid Nafees, claiming himself to be the Convenor of Minority Coordination Committee working on the welfare of the minorities across India.The counsel appearing for Nafees said that the post of Chairperson has been vacant since April 22, when the last Chairperson demitted office. The counsel appearing for the Union Government sought time to seek instructions in the matter, saying that she cannot comment on the issue without any instructions. “Please make sure things start moving. Dont wait for the next date. This is very very important,” Justice Gedela orally told Centre's counsel. The plea raises the concern in relation to the vacancy of Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Members of the National Commission for Minorities. The matter will now be heard on November 14. The Commission, which works under the Ministry of Minority Affairs and has quasi-judicial powers, should have seven members, including the Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson.The plea states that there is a complete and systematic incapacitation of the National Commission for Minorities due to Centre's failure to appoint its Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and all five Members.“This executive dereliction has rendered a vital statutory body, created by an Act of Parliament for the protection and welfare of India's notified minority communities, entirely defunct and headless,” the plea states. It adds that the “series of demissions from office”, beginning in November 2024 and culminating in the Chairperson's departure in April 2025, has led to a situation where the Commission, for all practical purposes, has ceased to exist.“The Petitioner, representing an informal minority welfare organization, attempted to resolve the issue through a formal representation to the Respondent on 20.08.2025, but was met with silence. This petition is a final recourse, seeking a writ of mandamus to compel the Respondent to uphold its statutory duty, respect the will of Parliament, and restore the constitutionally guaranteed safeguards for minority communities by making immediate appointments to the NCM,” the plea reads.Title: MUJAHID NAFEES v. UNION OF INDIA

Delhi High Court Seeks Centre's Stand On Plea To Fill Vacancies In National Commission For Minorities

Nupur Thapliyal

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