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In a plea challenging welfare schemes for Minorities, Union Government today submitted before the Supreme Court that schemes rolled out for minorities do not infringe upon the Rights of Hindus or run contrary to the principles of Equality.

Centre today responded pursuant to the last order passed on July 8, 2021, by a Full Judge Bench of Justice RF Nariman, Justice KM Joseph and Justice BR Gavai

“The schemes being implemented by the ministry are to reduce the inequalities among the minority communities and to improve the level of education, participation in employment, skill and entrepreneurship development, reducing deficiencies in civic amenities or infrastructure,” affidavit filed by the Centre reads.

The petitioners claim that Hindus were discriminated against on the ground of religion, as schemes worth ₹4700 crore were initiated in favour of only some religious minorities.

“The government and Parliament cannot promote minoritism and cannot show inclination towards them and allure them to flourish by initiating beneficial programs for them. Such an action will be detrimental for the sovereignty and integrity of India and give rise to separatists and may create a situation for another division of the nation,” the petition says.

It further challenges the validity of the establishment of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) and says that,

“The government cannot be invested with the power to declare any community as a 'minority community.”

Petition filed by Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain also adds that, “The Parliament cannot make any law for the benefit of any religion, maybe, for minority religious groups. Special benefit and advantage within the sweep of Article 15(4) can be provided only to those communities who are found ‘socially and educationally backward’ classes of citizens by a Commission established under Article 340 of the Constitution of India. From taxpayer money, no religion or religious groups can be promoted and therefore, no Minority Commission can be created to achieve the purposes enumerated in the Act.”

Case Title: Neeraj Shankar Saxena v. Union of India

[with inputs from HT]