The Catholic Bishops Confernce of India (CBCI) Commission for Education and Culture has written to the Prime Minister, Education Minister and other authorities objecting to the recent interpretation of the nature of minority status by the Chairman of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) Justice M.S.A. Siddiqui.

Christian Community has objected to the interpretation that Christian institutions with less than 30% students from the community cannot claim the Minority status guaranteed by the Constitution of India Art.30 (1). Siddiqui’s comments published in The Telegraph recently quoted him as saying: “I have ordered that an institution must have a minimum, reasonable percentage of students from a particular minority community to claim the institution as a minority institution. I have set the figure at 30 per cent.”

The CBCI Commission has in the following memorandum to the authorities has sought to take appropriate action on the issue.

… The Article 30(1) clearly states: “All minorities, whether based on religion or language, shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice”.

1. The Constitution does not fix any percentage for acquiring minority status.
2. Many a court decision is available to support the minority status of minority educational institutions in the country.
3. This statement and insistence is “arbitrary and one sided” and goes against the very purpose of Art.30 (1) of the Constitution of India.
4. Justice Siddiqui takes cover under the 2005 P.A. Inamdar judgement to validate his rulings.
5. This ruling comes especially now that the Christian and the Sikh members of NCMEI are absent as the Government is yet to fill the vacancies.
6. The Christian population in India is just 2% of the whole, and these are scattered all over the country. Wherever they are they have a right to preserve their religion and culture.
7. Besides this community has been serving and imparting quality education to the larger community without distinction of caste, creed, colour and sex.
8. From the inception of National commission for Minority Educational Institutions in 2004 till February 2010 has granted Minority Certificates to thousands of educational institutions that do not meet the new condition laid down by Justice Siddiqui.
9. It is surprising that the Commission (NCMEI) established with the intent of protecting and safeguarding the interests of the minority communities and the Constitutional provisions has taken a decision against the interests of the same.