Religious minority for indigenous faith of Meghalaya
There is three indigenous faith in Meghalaya- Niamtre, Niam Khasi and Songarek. In Meghalaya out of the 29 lakhs population, Christion makes up 74.59 percent. The Hindu 11.52 percent, Muslim 4.39 percent, Buddhist 0.33 percent, Sikh 0.1 percent, Jain 0.02 percent. ‘Other religious persuasion’ and ‘religion not stated’ constitute 8.70 and 9.02 percent respectively. In the State of Meghalaya, the indigenous Niamtre, Niam Khasi, and Songasareks are placed in the category of ‘other religious persuasion’. Since we are not included in the list of six minorities in the Country, we are being deprived of the various scheme especially the pre matric scholarship, Maulana Azad Scholarship etc. We have been demanding that we should be recognised as minority in the State of Meghlaya.
The SC in TMA Pai Foundation & ors vs State of Karnataka & ors [(2002) 8 SCC 481)] consider the question of the unit for the purpose of determining the definition of ‘minority’ within the meaning of Article 30(1). It held that ‘a minority either linguistic or religious is determinable only by reference to demography of the State and not by taking into consideration the population of the country as a whole’.
The question is Can we the Indigenous faith be declared minority at the State level ? If so, will we be ablae to enjoy the Central Scheme for Minorities ?
Asked 5 years ago in Constitutional Law
