NEW DELHI: The Government on Tuesday set in motion the process of further empowering the fledgling National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions.

Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh introduced the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2005, in the Rajya Sabha.

Plug loopholes

The amendment seeks to plug the loopholes that have hindered the functioning of the Commission set up last year after the United Progressive Alliance Government came to power. The new Bill aims to meet the aspirations of minority communities vis-à-vis their educational rights provided in the Constitution.

The Bill seeks to relax the existing provision under which minority educational institutions could seek affiliation to any of the six listed Scheduled Universities — Delhi University, North-Eastern Hill University, Pondicherry University, Assam University, Nagaland University and Mizoram University — only. They will be able to seek affiliation to any university of their choice subject to the rules of the university concerned.

Should the amendment be passed, the Commission will have the power to decide on all questions relating to the status of any institution as a minority educational institution and cancel recognition as a minority educational institution if the situation so warrants.

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