SHILLONG: The Task Force on minority issue headed by Commissioner and Secretary Social Welfare Department T Dkhar will submit its findings to the High Court of Meghalaya on January 27 in connection with the case filed by Niam Khasi and Niam Tre demanding minority status to them.
Without divulging the content of the interim report to be submitted before the Court, Dkhar told reporters on Monday that the state government has not discriminated any community in the name of caste and religion.
Earlier, while moving a petition through the counsel, representatives of Niam Khasi and Niam Tre had said that they should be provided minority status as they are being .deprived of their fundamental rights and human rights.
“There is no discrimination while providing scholarships and implementing schemes available from the Centre and the State though the inhabitants of the state follow different religions”, said Dkhar, who is the chairman of task force.
According to Dkhar, even schemes like IAY and others are given to all citizens of the state irrespective of caste, creed and religion as the state government follows proper criteria while implementing them.
In the January 13 order, the Court had asked the state government to send its recommendation to the Centre to make sure that the same benefits of central and state schemes as well as scholarships are made available to the minorities like the Niam Khasi and Niam Tre.
In view of the Court order, the Task Force met on January 20 before presenting a brief report before the Court on January 27.
The official said that even before the petition filed before the Court, the Government had received representations from Niam Khasi and Niam Tre in April and September 2015 regarding the issue.
The High Court had asked the Secretary, Minority Affairs to be present during the next hearing in Shillong after issuing a bailable warrant with Rs. 20,000 against the Secretary to ensure his appearance by the Police commissioner, Delhi.
Now the Joint Secretary, Minority Affairs will appear on behalf of the Centre on January 27 in the Court.
