National Commission for Backward Classes

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National Commission for Backward Classes
NCBC
राष्ट्रीय पिछड़ा वर्ग आयोग
Commission overview
Formed14 August 1993;30 years ago (1993-08-14)
Constitutional status granted on 11 August 2018;5 years ago (2018-08-11)
Jurisdiction Government of India
Headquarters New Delhi
Minister responsible
Commission executives
Website www.ncbc.nic.in

The National Commission for Backward Classes (abbreviate: NCBC) is an Indian constitutional body under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India established through Constitution Act, 2018 (also called, 102nd Amendment Act, 2018) this amendment act in the constitution to make it a constitutional body under Article 338B of the Indian Constitution. It was constituted pursuant to the provisions of the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993. [1]

Contents

The main work of the commission is to participate and advise actively on the socio-economic development of the socially backward classes (OBCs) along with evaluating the progress of their development.

Statutory backing

The commission was the outcome of Indra Sawhney & Others v. Union of India. The Supreme Court of India in its Judgement dated 16.11.1992 in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 930 of 1990 – Indra Sawhney & Ors. Vs. Union of India and Ors., reported in (1992) Supp. 3 SCC 217 directed the Government of India, State Governments and Union Territory Administrations to constitute a permanent body in the nature of a Commission or Tribunal for entertaining, examining and recommending upon requests for inclusion and complaints of over-inclusion and under-inclusion in the list of OBCs. [2] The Supreme Court held that the Constitution recognised only social and educational – and not economic – backwardness.

The number of backward castes in Central list of OBCs has now increased to 5,013+ (without the figures for most of the Union Territories) in 2006 as per National Commission for Backward Classes. [3] In October 2015, National Commission for Backward Classes proposed that a person belonging to OBC with an annual family income of up to ₹15 lakhs should be considered as minimum ceiling for OBC. [4] NCBC also recommended sub-division of OBCs into 'backward', 'more backward' and 'extremely backward' blocs and divide 27% quota amongst them in proportion to their population, to ensure that stronger OBCs don't corner the quota benefits. [5] [6] [7]

Constitutionality

According to article 340 of the Indian Constitution, President shall establish a commission to examine the condition of social and backward class.

Composition

According to Article 338B :-

Current members

The commission currently consists of following members [8]

PositionMember
Chairperson Mr. Hansraj Gangaram Ahir
Vice ChairmanN.A
MemberMr. Bhuvan Bhusahan Kamal
MemberMr. Kaushlendra Singh Patel
MemberMr. Thalloju Achary
Legal AdvisorMr. Ramesh Babu Vishwanathula
Law ConsultantMr. Vishvendra Singh

Functions and power

The commission considers inclusions in and exclusions from the lists of communities notified as backward for the purpose of job reservations and tenders the needful advice to the Central Government as per Section 9(1) of the NCBC Act, 1993. Similarly, the states have also constituted commissions for BC's. As of 24 July 2014 over two thousand groups have been listed as OBCs. The National Commission for Backward Classes, National Commission for Scheduled Castes as well as National Commission for Scheduled Tribes have the same powers as a Civil Court. [9] Initially National Commission for Backward Classes was not empowered to look into the grievances of persons of Other Backward Classes (under Article 338(5) read with Article 338(10) of the Constitution, National Commission for Scheduled Castes was the competent authority to look into all the grievances, rights and safeguards relating to Backward Classes). But consequent to the 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act and the insertion of Article 338B, these powers are now vested in NCBC. [10]

According to Article 338B(5) [11] It shall be the duty of the Commission—

  1. to investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the socially and educationally backward classes under this Constitution or under any other law for the time being in force or under any order of the Government and to evaluate the working of such safeguards;
  2. to inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the socially and educationally backward classes;
  3. to participate and advise on the socio-economic development of the socially and educationally backward classes and to evaluate the progress of their development under the Union and any State;
  4. to present to the President, annually and at such other times as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards;
  5. to make in such reports the recommendations as to the measures that should be taken by the Union or any State for the effective implementation of those safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare and socio-economic development of the socially and educationally backward classes; and
  6. to discharge such other functions in relation to the protection, welfare and development and advancement of the socially and educationally backward classes as the President may, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament, by rule specify.

See also

OBCs
Ministry
Others

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References

  1. ↑ "The NCBC Act, 1993". ncbc.nic.in. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  2. ↑ "National Commission for Backward Classes". www.ncbc.nic.in. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  3. ↑ ""Time to curb number of backward castes"". The Hindu. 13 September 2007 – via www.thehindu.com.
  4. ↑ "OBC panel backs off, won't make 'creamy layer' reservation criteria stringent - Times of India". The Times of India.
  5. ↑ "OBC sub-division, relaxing creamy layer is a must: NCBC tells govt - Times of India". The Times of India.
  6. ↑ "Raise 'creamy layer' to Rs 10.5 lakh: OBC panel - Times of India". The Times of India.
  7. ↑ "National Commission for Backward Classes". www.ncbc.nic.in.
  8. ↑ "National Commission for Backward Classes".
  9. ↑ "National Commission for Backward Classes". Press Information Bureau. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  10. ↑ Constitution of India (PDF). Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  11. ↑ "National Commission for Backward Classes".
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