Hindu minority in 9 States: SC flays Centre for not responding to the plea

New Delhi, Jan 31 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Union of India (UoI) for its failure to file its response on a petition seeking directions for identification of minorities at the state level. A Bench, headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and also comprising Justice M M Sundresh, slapped a fine of Rs 7,500 on the Union government, for failing to file its response on the issue, despite being given time by the Court on January 7. The petition, filed by BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, challenged the validity of Section 2(f) of the National Commission for Minority Education Institution (NCMEI) Act, 2004. The plea sought necessary directions to the Centre for identification of minorities at the state level. It said that Hindus were a minority in nine states and they were not able to take advantage of the schemes made for the minorities. It also said that followers of Judaism, Bahaism and Hinduism, who are minorities in Laddakh, Mizoram, Lakshdweep, Jammu & Kashmir, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab and Manipur, should be declared minority to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice in spirit of the TMA Pai judgement. However, the Centre defended its stand and cited Covid-19 pandemic as the ground, then the bench said, “Everything else is happening. You have to take a stand. Don’t make an excuse, which we find very difficult to accept.” Senior Advocate and former Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Vikas Singh, appearing for petitioner Upadhyay, opposed a plea for adjournment by the Centre. The court posted the matter for further hearing in March