Union Minister addressed the 20th Foundation Day of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI), emphasizing the rights of minorities under the Constitution.
About NCMEI
Genesis: Formed by the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) Act, 2004.
It aims to safeguard the educational rights of the minorities enshrined in Article 30(1) of the Constitution.
- Article 30(1) provides linguistic and religious minorities a fundamental right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
It is a quasi-judicial body with powers of the Civil Court and has been endowed with the powers of a Civil Court for the purpose of discharging its functions under the Act.
Main Roles: It has three main roles namely adjudicatory, advisory and recommendatory.
Powers of the Commission:
- It decides all questions relating to the status of any institution as a Minority Educational Institution (MEI).
- It serves as an appellate authority in respect of disputes pertaining to Minority Status/No Objection Certificate (NOC).
- Educational institutions aggrieved by the order of refusal to grant Minority Status Certificate/NOC by the competent authority of State/UT, can appeal to the Commission against such orders.
- It has the power to cancel the minority status of an educational institution granted by an Authority or Commission, on grounds laid down in the Act.
It also has powers to call for information while enquiring into the complaints of