LexThe DELHI MINORITIES COMMISSION ACT, 1999
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The Delhi Minorities Commission Act,1999
Act 1 of 2000
Keyword(s):
Commission, Chairperson, Minority Community
LAW, JUSTICE & LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
NOTIFICATION
Delhi, the 8th February, 2000
No.F-21(1)9/99-LAS-11/To/30.-The Act of the Legislative Assembly received
the Assent of the Lieutenant Gover nor of Delhi on 7-2-2000 And is hereby
Published for general information
The Delhi Minorities Commission Act,1999 (Delhi Act No.1 of 2000)
(As Passed by the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi on
24th December 1999).
An act to provided for the establishment and functioning of a Minorities Commission
to safeguard the rights and interests of the Minority communities in the National
Capital Territory of Delhi and for matters connected therewith or incidental there to.
BE it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi
in the fifth year of the Republic of India as follows:-
CHAPTER 1
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, extent and commencement
1. This Act may be called the Delhi Minorities Commission Act, 1999.
2. It extends to the National Capital Territory of Delhi .
3. It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification
in the official Gazette, appoint.
2. Definitions
In this Act , unless the context otherwise requires :-
(a) “Commission” means the Delhi Minorities Commission constituted under
section 3 of this Act;
(b) “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Delhi Minorities Commission
appointed under sub section (2)of Section 3 of this Act;
(c) “ Delhi “ means the National Capital Territory of Delhi;
(d) “Government “ means the Lieutenant Governor referred to in article
239 AA of the Constitution;
(e) “Lieutenant Governor” means the Lieutenant Governor of the National
Capital Territory of Delhi appointed by the President under article 239 of
the Constitution;
(f) “Member” means a member of the Commission;
(g) “Minority Community” for the purpose of this Act, means a Comminute
notified as such by the Central Government as per provisions of the
National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992;
(h) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules made under this Act;
CHAPTER II
THE DELHI MIORITIES COMMISSION
3. Constitution of the Commission
1. As soon as may be after the commencement of this Act, the Government shall
constitute a body to be called the Delhi Minorities Commission to exercise the
powers conferred on and to perform the function assigned to it, under this Act.
2. The Commission shall consist of a Chairperson and Two members to be
nominated by the Government from amongst persons of eminence, ability and
integrity belonging to the minority communities of Delhi who may be full time
or part time .
4. Term of office and conditions of service of Chairperson and Members
(1) The Chairperson or a Member shall hold office for a term of three years from
the date he assumes office and be eligible for reappointment for one more term.
(2) The Chairperson or a Member may resign from his office in writing under his
signature addressed to the Government .
(3) The Chairperson and Members shall be entitled to such salary, allowances,
status and other facilities as may be prescribed.
(4) The Government shall remove a person from the post of Chairperson or
Member referred to in sub-clause(2) if that person-
(a) becomes an undercharged insolvent;
(b) is convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for an offence
which in the opinion of the Central Government involves
moral turpitude;
(c) become of unsound mind and stands so declared by a
competent court;
(d) refuses to act or becomes incapable of acting;
(e) is, without obtaining leave of absences from the Commission,
absent from three consecutive meetings of the Commission;
or
(f) has, in the opinion of the Government of National Capital
Territory, so abused the position of Chairperson, or Member,
as to render that person’s continuance in office detrimental
to the interests of Minorities or the public interest: Provided
to that no person shall be removed under this clause until
that person has been given a reasonable opportunity of being
heard in the matter.
(5) Any vacancy occurring in the Commission shall be filled as soon as may be by
the Government for the un- expired part or the term of the out- going member
5. Secretary of the Commission
1. The Secretary of the Commission shall be appointed by the
Government in consultation with the Chairperson, and he shall not
be below the rank of a Secretary to the Government.
2. The Secretary shall look after the day-to-day administration and shall
work as directed by the Commission.
3. The Secretary shall cause the accounts of the commission to be
maintained and shall discharge the duties cast on him by or under
this Act.
4. The Secretary will be entitled to such salary and allowances as may be
prescribed.
6. Staff of the Commission
1. The Government shall provide such staff, amenities and facilities to the
Commission as may be determined by the government for the effective
functioning of the commission.
2. The administrative expenses of the Commission, including the salaries,
allowances, pensions and other amounts payable to the Secretary, officers and
staff of the commission shall be paid as prescribed and paid out of the grants
referred to in sub-section(2) of section 11 of this Act.
7. Procedure to be regulated by the Commission
The Commission shall regulate its own procedure with prior approval of the
Government.
8. Authentication of orders and decisions of the Commission
All the orders and decisions of the Commission shall be authenticated by the
secretary, or any other officer of the commission duly authorized by the chairperson.
9. Vacancies, etc. not to invalidate proceedings of the commission
No act, decision or proceeding of the commission shall be called in question or held
invalid merely on the ground of any vacancy or defect in the constitution of the
commission.
CHAPTER III
FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE COMMISSION
8. Functions of the Commission
(1) The Commission shall perform all or any of the following functions:-
(a) examine the working of various safeguards provided in the Constitution of India or laws
enacted by Parliament and the laws passed by the Legislative Assembly of Delhi for the protection of
the Minority Communities, and to make recommendations to ensure their effective implementation;
(b) monitor the implementation of the policies and schemes of the government for the welfare of
Minority communities;
(c) conduct studies, research and analysis in order to make recommendations to promote the socio-
economic enlistment of the Minority Communities and facilitate their optimum participation in nation-
building.
(d) Cause studies to be undertaken into problems arising out of any discrimination against Minority
Communities and recommend measures for their solutions;
(e) hold seminars, debates and discussions on problems affecting the Minority Communities of Delhi
to raise public awareness;
(f) Assess the representation of minority Communities in the services of the government, semi-
Government bodies and govt. Undertakings, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi Development
Authority, New Delhi Municipal Council, other local authorities and in case of inadequate
representation, to recommended remedial measures;
(g) Make recommendations for ensuring, maintaining and promoting communal harmony in Delhi;
(h) Look into specific complaints regarding the deprivation fo the rights and safeguards of the
Minority communities and to take up such matters with the appropriate authorities for necessary action;
(i) Serve as a Clearing House for information in respect of the Minority Communities in Delhi;
(j) Deal with any other matter pertaining to the welfare of the Minority communities which may be
referred to it by the Government.
(2) Annual report
The Commission shall prepare every year an annual Report giving a true and full account of its
activities during the year, along with its recommendations, and copies there of shall be
forwarded to the Government. The government shall without delay cause the same to be laid
before the House of the Legislative Assembly of Delhi along with a report setting out the
action taken, or proposed to be taken, on the recommendations and the reasons for non-
acceptance, of such recommendations.
(3) Special report
The commission may submit to the Government special report on any matter of public
importance pertaining to the interest of the Minority Communities.
(4) Right to be heard
In case of non- acceptance of any recommendations, the Commission shall have the right to be heard
by the Minister –in-charge.
(5) Quasi-judicial powers
The Commission shall have, in carrying out its Function, the powers of a civil court trying a suit and,
in particular , in respect of the following matters, namely:-
1. summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him
on oath;
2. requiring the discovery and production of any document;
3. receiving evidence on affidavits;
4. requisitioning any public or institutional record, or copy thereof, from any
office or institution of the government.
(6) Power to utilize services of agencies
The commission may, for the purposes of conducting any examination under this Act, utilize the
services of any agency of the government with the prior approval of the government.
(7) Protection for statement made to the commission
No statement made by a person to the /commission in the course of giving evidence shall be used
against him any court proceeding except for perjury.
CHAPTER IV
FINANCE, ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT
11. Budget and grants by the Government
1. The Commission shall prepare every year a budget estimate of its income and
expenditure for the financial year and shall forward it to the Government.
2. The government shall, after due appropriation made by the Legislature of
Delhi in this behalf, pay to the Commission by way of grants such sums of
money as are adequate for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
3. The Commission may spend such sums out of the grants as it think fit for
performing its functions under this Act, or incidental thereto
12. Accounts and Audit
1. The accounts of the income and expenditure of the Commission shall be kept
in accordance with the rules.
2. The Commission shall prepare an annual statement of accounts in the
prescribed form.
3. The accounts of the Commission shall be audited annually by the auditors
appointed by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
4. The auditors shall have access to all the accounts and other records of the
Commission.
5. The Commission shall send a copy of the annual statement of accounts
together with a copy of the audit report to the government to be published in
the prescribed manner.
CHAPTER V
MISCELLANEOUS
13. Chairperson, Members and staff of commission to be public servants
The Chairperson, Members and officers authorized by the commission to perform functions
under this Act, shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the
Indian Penal Code, 1860 (45) of 1860).
14. Protection of action taken in good faith
No civil, criminal or other legal proceedi ng shall lie against the chairperson, embers or officers
performing functions under this Act. Or under authority of the Commission, in respect of
anything which is done in good faith or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act by or
under the authority of the Commission.
15. Establishment of library and cell
The Government may establish a Library, an information Cell a Research Cell and such other Cells as
may be recommended by the Commission.
16. Power to make rules
1. The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, make rules for
carrying out the provisions of this Act.
2. In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power,
such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters namely:
(a) Salary, allowances, status and other facilities to which the Chairperson or a
Member shall be entitled;
(b) Salary and allowances payable to the Secretary;
(c) Prescribing of the administrative expenses of the Commission, including the
salaries, allowances, pensions and other amounts payable to the Secretary,
officers and staff of the Commission;
(d) Making of rules in accordance with which the accounts of the income and
expenditure of the Commission shall no kept;
(e) Prescription of the form in which the annual statement of accounts of the
Commission shall be prepared.
(f) Prescribing the manner of publication of the annual statement of accounts of
the Commission together with a copy of the audit report by the Government.
(g) Any other matter which is required to be or may by prescribed
(3) Every rule made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before the House of
the Legislative Assembly of Delhi, while it is in session for a total period of thirty days which may be
comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions and if , before the expiry of the sessions
immediately following the session or the successive aforesaid, the House agrees in making any
modification in the rule, or the House agrees that the rule should not be made, the rule shall there after
have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, ad the case may be without prejudice to the
validity of anything previously done under that rule.
17. Repeal and saving
(1) the Resolution made vide No F. 10/3/98- HP/Estt./MC/2527 dated 20-05-1999 by the Government
constitution the Delhi Minorities ( Provisional ) Commission (hereinafter referred to as “the former
Commission”) is hereby repealed.
(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything dine or any action taken by the Resolution referred to in sub-
section(1)shall be deemed to have been done or taken under this Act as of the provisions of this Act
were in force at all material times.
18. Power to remove difficulties
If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the previsions of this Act, the Government may, in
consultation with the Commission, and by order published in the official gazette, make such provisions
not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as may be necessary of removing the difficulty.
Provided that no such order shall be made after the expiry of a period of two years from the date of the
commencement of this Act.
Every order made under this Act shall, as soon as, may be after it is made, be laid before the House of
the Legislative Assembly of Delhi.