This book has four parts. Part one explains the place of minorities in a democracy, examines the process of their formation at the global as well as national levels and looks at the response received by them at these forums. Parts two and three deal with basic rights of minorities enshrined in Articles 25 and 30 of the Indian Constitution, the detailed history of these articles, the debates in the Constituent Assembly and other related documents.
This book also deals with Christians as a minority and controverts the myth that they are the most forward community. It details the general constitutional rights as well as special rights of the minorities in India and focuses attention on the relationship between human rights and minority rights and the role of National Commission for Minorities in protecting the human rights of minorities. The appendices contain important international and national documents relating to human and constitutional rights of the minorities.
An essential reading for sociologists, political scientists, human rights activists and all others interested in the issues involved and the future of Indian polity.
This book has four parts. Part one explains the place of minorities in a democracy, examines the process of their formation at the global as well as national levels and looks at the response received by them at these forums.
Arvustused
" This book which details the general costitutional right of the minorities, is a must read for students of Indian society and for human rights activists."
Preface 9
Prologue 13
Part One
Chapter One Minorities in a Democracy: Formation and Responses 17
Chapter Two National Minorities and their Profiles 27
Chapter Three The Constitutional Rights of Minorities 43
Chapter Four Encounter with Issues and Problems 51
Part Two
Chapter Five History of Article 25 69
Chapter Six Scope and Application of Article 25 82
Chapter Seven Implementation of Article 25 88
Chapter Eight Violation of the Religious Right of Minorities 96
Part Three
Chapter Nine History of Article 30 117
Chapter Ten Scope and Application of Article 30 127
Part Four
Chapter Eleven
Christians as a Minority: Specific Problems 139
Chapter Twelve Protection of the Human Rights of Minorities 149
Appendices
Appendix One Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 165
Appendix Two Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and
of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, 1981 172
Appendix Three Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or
Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, 1992 177
Appendix Four National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 182
Appendix Five The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 189
Appendix Six Prime Minister's 15-Point Programme for Minorities 1983 214
Appendix Seven
1. (a) NCMGuidelines1986: Determination of Minority Stats, Recognition and
Related Matters in respect of Minority Educational Institutions under the
Constitution of India 217
2. (b) Government Policy Norms and Principles 1989 fr Recognition of
Minority-Managed Educational Institutions 220
Appendix Eight
(a) Orissa Freedom of Religious Act, 1967 223 (b) Regulations, Orders,
Notification, Rules, etc., Issued by the Governor, Heads of Departments and
High Court 225
Appendix Nine Madhya Pradesh Dharma Swatantrya Adhiniyam, 1968 231
Appendix Ten Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978 234
Appendix Eleven Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religion
Ordinance, 2002 237
Index 241
Rev. Dr. (Habil) James Massey was the General Secretary/Director of the Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, Delhi. He was also the Honorary Secretary/Director of the Dalit Solidarity Programme of India. Dr Massey was the translator of the Punjabi Bible, the author of Masihiata: Ika Paricaya (Punjabi), Doctrine of the Ultimate Reality in Sikh Religion, and Christian Dalits in India (Hindi), and co-editor of the volume on Dalit Solidarity.
