Commissions for SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities discuss their ‘common issues’

Sub: Polity

Sec: National bodies

Context:

Recently the National Commissions for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), Scheduled Tribes (NCST), Other Backward Classes (NCOBC), and Minorities held a joint meeting to address common challenges they face.
Representatives of the National Commission for Safai Karmacharis (NCSK) were also present at the meeting.

Key issues raised:

The meeting highlighted concerns related to the evasion of summonses by officials and the refusal of organizations to implement the Commissions’ recommendations by obtaining stay orders from courts.
Some Commission representatives argued that these actions were an infringement on their authority, particularly their power to act as a civil court.
The inability to effectively enforce their recommendations hampers the functioning of the Commissions, which are meant to safeguard the rights of marginalized communities.

National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC):

NCSC is a constitutional body that works to safeguard the interests of the scheduled castes (SC) in India. Article 338 of the constitution of India deals with this commission.
It consists of Chairperson, Vice-chairperson and three other members. They are appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.

National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST):

The NCST is a constitutional body established in 2004 by amending Article 338 and introducing Article 338A in the Constitution through the 89th Amendment Act, 2003.
It consists of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, and three other members. At least one member should be a woman. They are appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
Tenure: The Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson, and other Members of the Commission hold office for a term of three years from the date on which he/she assumes such office. They are not be eligible for appointment for more than two terms.

National Commission for Backward classes:

102nd Constitution Amendment Act, 2018 provides constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) under Article 338B.
The Commission consists of five members including a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and three other Members appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
The conditions of service and tenure of office of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other Members is determined by the President.

National Commission for Minorities:

It is a statutory body under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 for the purpose of safeguarding and protecting the interests of minorities as provided in the Constitution of India and laws enacted by the Parliament and the State Legislatures.
The commission consist of Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and five Members. The Members including the Chairperson shall be from amongst the minority communities.
Each Member holds office for a period of three years from the date of assumption of office.
The NCM Act defines a minority as “a community notified as such by the Central government.”

National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK):

The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) was constituted on 12th August, 1994 as a statutory body by an Act of Parliament ‘National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993’, for a period of three years.
However, validity of the Act was extended up to March 2004, by subsequent amendments.
After 2004, The Commission is acting as a non-Statutory body of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The Commission’s tenure is extended from time to time through Government Resolutions
It comprises a Chairman (in the rank and status of the Union Minister of State) and four members, including a lady member (in the rank and status of the Secretary to the Government of India) and the Secretary (in the rank of Joint Secretary to the Govt. of India)