HC issues warrant against union secretary

SHILLONG, JAN 13: Even as bailable warrant to the tune of Rs 20, 000 was issued against the Secretary of Minority Affairs, Government of India to secure his appearance on the hearing scheduled on January 27, the full bench of Meghalaya high court has directed the state government to send its recommendation to the centre so that Niam Khasi and Niamtre accrues the benefits of the central and state governments schemes.

The court order was passed during a hearing on the petition filed against denial of benefits to the minorities like Niam Khasi and Niamtre on Wednesday.

The  bailable warrant was issued after the Secretary of Minority Affairs, Government of India for failed to comply the court’s earlier order directing his appearance.

“The State Government shall send its recommendation to the Central Government to inform that these tribes have been declared as 5 minorities and therefore, the same benefits of Central and State Schemes of scholarships and other benefits available to the minorities shall also be extended to them,” the bench headed by the Chief Justice Uma Nath Singh said in its order here.

It also directed that the entire exercise shall be completed within a period of eight weeks from the date of receiving a copy of this order.

During the hearing, Meghalaya Chief Secretary PBO Warjri, who is also present in Court states that to the best of his knowledge, there is no discrimination in respect of grant of benefits to all the minorities in the State of Meghalaya.

However, this was strongly refuted by HS Thangkhiew, learned senior Advocate on the ground that none of the schools where children of the minorities are studying and applying for minority scholarships, grants the benefits of such scholarships on the ground that there is no declaration/notification to the effect.

However, along with the affidavit filed by Warjri, there is a Notification dated December 21, 2015 for constitution of a Task Force Committee on minorities.

On this, the full bench has also pulled the Meghalaya government for the delay in constituting the said committee.

“We are surprised that the State of Meghalaya has constituted this Committee after 23 years of coming into force of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 on May 17, 1992 and that too in the compliance of the aforesaid orders passed by this Court,” it stated.

On being asked as to whether the Committee has given any interim report, T Dkhar, Chairperson of the Task Force Committee undertakes to submit the report within three weeks.

Meanwhile, the high court has issued a bailable warrant in the sum of Rs 20, 000 against the Secretary of Minority Affairs, Government of India to secure his appearance on the next date of hearing scheduled on January 27.

“The warrant shall be executed by the Police commissioner, Delhi, to ensure the appearance of the Secretary before the Court on date fixed,” the bench said.

According to the order, the court was informed by the Central Government counsel that the last order of summoning of the Secretary, Minority Affairs, Govt. of India has already been communicated, but till date, there is no response.

Meanwhile, the bench has also directed T Dkhar, Chairperson, Task Force Committee, to again remain present in Court on the next date of hearing with the report of the Committee.-By Our Reporter