No State panel on minorities

He said some of the recommendations in both the reports were common, which included setting up of a minorities welfare department in the State on the lines of Andhra Pradesh, Assam and West Bengal to effectively deal with all matters and problems relating to the minorities. However, the government did not approve of this recommendation saying that already it had a Social Justice and Civil Liberties Department and it was working effectively.

Among the other recommendations, which were not accepted, was the one which sought immediate, proper effective and time-bound enquires by wholly impartial, highest-level, state agencies not not amenable to any undue influence political or otherwise into each of the incidents of anti-minority violence and vandalism that occurred in the State since March 1998.

The recommendation also said the State Government should not be involved in any way in any such investigation and must not be allowed even to indirectly affect it. The government, in its clarification, said the administration always took effective steps and, if needed, it would hand it over the probe to the criminal investigation department.

The government was of the view that it did not approve the recommendation which said the investigation should not be given to the local officers, saying that this recommendation was prejudiced8217;.

Nareshkumar Rawal, Congress Chief whip in the Assembly, however, told reporters that the government should table both reports and not just the recommendations before the House.

One of the suggestion made in the report was to award deterrent to all those found guilty of having committed any crime against the minorities, especially any of the offences relating to religion. The government, while not accepting this recommendation, Pandya said it could not punish anybody for the crime as it was in the jurisdiction of the court to award such a punishment. The government observed that its job was to investigate the crime and then put the chargesheet before the court.

The government did not accept the recommendation made for establishing a State minorities commission by a government order by giving it a statutory status as the government observed that the NCM had its jurisdiction all over the country. There was no need of having a separate commission and added that the minorities board in the state had been given the responsibility of welfare of the minorities and protection of their rights.

About the religious places, the commission had recommended to protect all the places of worship belonging to minorities adequately by fencing. However, the government while not accepting its recommendation observed that religious places belonged to the trustees and they were very high in number. It was not possible to fence all the religious places. However, if necessary, the government would provide protection to these places. The State government reiterated its commitment to protect human rights, civil liberties and fundamental freedom of all citizens, conduct impartial and quick investigation and to take action against officers showing negligence in their duties.

It also accepted the recommendation to conduct meetings of various religious communities and added that such meetings were held at the CM8217;s level as well as at district level. The director general of police was also having meetings of the officers and guiding them about civil liberties and rights. The government had appointed the DGP as the nodal authority to look into the inflammatory writing and speeches and to take action against such people. The Central Government had already prepared a 15 point programme for the welfare of minorities and the state government was implementing it. It was also providing compensation to the affected parties in case of any damage and added that revenue department was always doing it.