The Delhi High Court has criticized the Central government for leaving the National Commission for Minorities without a chairperson and members for months. The court urges immediate action to restore the commission’s leadership and protect minority rights.
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NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has expressed deep concern over the prolonged vacancy of key positions in the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), highlighting the urgent need for government action to uphold minority rights in India.
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During a hearing on Wednesday in the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by activist Mujahid Nafees, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela emphasized the critical importance of filling the positions of Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and members of the NCM. The bench remarked,
“You can’t have a Commission without the head. Do not wait for the next date of hearing. Please ensure that things start moving. This is very very important.”
The PIL, filed through advocate Deeksha Dwivedi, points out that all seven positions of the Commission, including the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and five members, have remained vacant since April 12, 2025, following the completion of former Chairperson S Iqbal Singh Lalpura’s tenure.
According to the petition, this inaction has rendered the statutory body completely non-functional, undermining the protection of minority rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India and the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
The petition further highlights that the government’s failure to act has been acknowledged in Parliament, with the Minister of Minority Affairs admitting the delay on the floor of the Rajya Sabha. The plea also notes that this delay directly contravenes an earlier order from the Delhi High Court, which had directed the government to fill vacancies in statutory bodies expeditiously.
The Bench has now allowed the Central Government’s counsel to obtain instructions in the matter, signaling that judicial scrutiny over the prolonged vacancy is likely to intensify.
