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Supreme Courts Directive on Jains Minority Status

    THE SUPREME COURT DIRECTS GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ON JAINS MINORITY STATUS

    New Delhi, July 29, 2004: In one of the noteworthy developments in connection with the minority status of the Jains, the Supreme Court has directed the Government of India to come out with a final decision. the National Commission for Minorities in one of its recommendations dated 3-10-1994 had recommended to the Government of India to include “Jain Community” in the notification dated 23.10.1993 so as to grant the minority status. But the Government did not take any action on the recommendations made by the Commission. As a result of this a Writ Petition was filed at the Bombay High Court to direct the Government to take an action in this connection. The Bombay High Court had disposed this petition by directing the Central Government to take the decision in the matter expeditiously and as early as possible. In spite of the directions given by the High Court, no decision was taken by the Central Government about the minority status.

    Aggrieved by such inaction on the part of the Government again a Writ Petition was filed in the High Court of Judicature at Bombay. The Union of India in its counter-affidavit had taken a stand that the point raised in the writ petition was pending for consideration in the Supreme Court in T.M.A.Pai Foundation & Ors. V State of Karnataka & Ors case. But in the T.M.A. Pai Foundation case it was directed to the Government of India to come out with a correct decision on the matter. In spite of all these developments the Government of India failed to take a firm decision on this issue.

    Taking note of the inaction by the Government over this long span of 10 years the Supreme Court in its directions dated 29th July 2004 has directed the Government of India to come out with a final decision on the matter with in a period of four months from the date of its directions  so that it could come out with its final order so as to issue its notification by December second week. It has clearly mentioned that no further time shall be granted to the government in this matter. On the part of the government failing to come out with a final decision on the matter Mr. Bal Patil (Member of the Maharashtra States Minority Commission and Chairman of the Jain Minority Status Committee, Dakshina Bharat Jain Sabha) will be allowed to contest the case. – Jain Heritage Centres News Service

    LETTERS AND MEMORANDUMS SUBMITTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE JAINS MINORITY STATUS CASE

    In connection with the Jains minority status case Mr. Bal Patil has written letters to the Prime Minister, Dr.Manmohan Singh, The Law & Justice Minister, Sri H.R. Bharadwaj, and Social Justice Minister, Smt.Meira Kumar requesting for an expeditious decision as directed by the Supreme Court.

    Acharya Sri Vidyanandaji’s Reaction: Mr. Bal Patil has given a memorandum on this matter to the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Shri Arjun Singhji at a function held in Kund Kund Bharati in the holy presence of Acharyashri Vidyanandji. Sri Bal Patil had met Acharyashri  after the SC Order and sought his blessings in this matter. “He has assured that the order will be blessed with a successful conclusion”. Mr.Patil has also presented an Aide-Memoire to the Congress President and Chairperson of the National Advisory Council on the Common Minimum Programme of the United Progressive Alliance Government.

    To have a look at these memorandums please click here

    For further details on the case please contact Mr. Bal Patil at the email: president@globaljains.com. The readers of Jaina Voice can send your comments and opinions on the Jains Minority Case to email info@jainheritagecentres.com.  These comments and opinions would be published in the coming issues of Jaina Voice.

    Please click here TO HAVE A LOOK AT THE EXTRACT OF THE COURTS DIRECTIONS GIVEN TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA IN CONNECTION WITH THE MINORITY STATUS OF THE JAIN COMMUNITY

    JAINS MINORITY STATUS ONLINE PETITION

    News Delhi, September 15, 2004: In view of the recent directions given by the Supreme Court to the Government of India to come out with a decision on the Jain minority status, the Government is left with only a few days to come out with a firm decision in this connection. In order to impress upon the government of India to come out with a positive decision an online petition has been started at the website petitiononline.com. The readers of Jaina Voice are here by requested to kindly sign this petition and there by help the Jain community in building up the pressure on the Government. To have a look at the petition and to sign the petition please visit the link: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/jm7i2004/petition.html

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