The Centre has advised the Supreme Court that welfare schemes for spiritual minority communities are “legally valid” which goals to scale back the inequalities and doesn’t violate the rights of members of Hindus or different communities.
The submission was made in an affidavit filed in response to a petition which stated welfare schemes can’t be based mostly on faith.
“It is submitted that the schemes being carried out by the Ministry are to scale back the inequalities among the many minority communities and to enhance the extent of schooling, participation in employment, talent and entrepreneurship growth, lowering deficiencies in civic facilities or infrastructure.
“The schemes are not in contradiction to the principles of equality as enshrined in the Constitution. These schemes are legally valid as they are only enabling provisions so as to achieve inclusiveness and do not suffer from any infirmity. The support given to disadvantaged/ underprivileged children/candidates of minorities communities through these schemes cannot, therefore, be faulted with,” the affidavit said.
The Centre stated the welfare schemes are meant just for the economically weaker sections/underprivileged, kids/candidates/girls of the minority communities and never for everybody belonging to a minority group.
In addition, the scholarship scheme, teaching schemes and so forth have educational benefit, in addition to earmarking for lady college students, it added.
The petition, filed by Neeraj Shankar Saxena and 5 others, had stated the petitioners are being unconstitutionally disadvantaged of advantages obtainable to equally located members of spiritual minorities in violation of their basic proper.
The petitioners and different members of Hindu group are struggling as a result of they’ve been born in majority group. “The State cannot promote or give any benefit to any religious community whether minority or majority keeping in view the secular ethos embedded in the Constitution of India,” the petition stated.
The petitioners contended that by giving such “undue advantage”, the Centre is treating the Muslim group above regulation and the Constitution since no such advantages are given to the establishments of Hindu group.
It has additionally sought the scrapping of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, as there may be already a Backward Classes Commission to seek out out the situations of the backward lessons that want help.