New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has formally requested the central government to present its position regarding the ongoing vacancies within the National Commission for Minorities (NCM). This directive comes as the court acknowledged the critical nature of the issue, particularly the vacant post of chairperson.
During a hearing, a bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela was informed that the position of NCM chairperson has remained unfilled since April 22. The counsel representing the Centre sought additional time to obtain instructions from the relevant authorities, to which the bench emphasized the need for prompt action, stating, “Please make sure things start moving. Don’t wait for the next date. This is very very important.”
The court was addressing a public interest litigation filed by Mujahid Nafees, who identified himself as the convenor of the Minority Coordination Committee. The petition alleged that the NCM has been rendered “completely and systematically incapacitated” due to the government’s failure to appoint its chairperson, vice-chairperson, and all five members. The plea further contended that this “executive dereliction” has made the statutory body, established for the protection and welfare of India’s minority communities, “entirely defunct and headless.”
The petitioner is seeking a court order directing the Centre, through the Ministry of Minority Affairs, to expedite the appointment process for the NCM’s leadership and members in accordance with the National Commission for Minorities Act. The plea also calls for transparency and a time-bound completion of these appointments, ideally within four weeks of the court’s order.
The petition highlighted a series of departures from office starting in November 2024, culminating in the chairperson’s exit in April 2025, which has effectively rendered the commission non-operational. The petitioner, representing an informal minority welfare organization, stated that previous attempts to address the issue through formal representation were met with silence, prompting this legal recourse.
The petition seeks a writ of mandamus to compel the government to fulfill its statutory obligations, respect the intent of Parliament, and reinstate the constitutionally mandated safeguards for minority communities through immediate appointments to the NCM.