Lecture
on Recent
Amendment to the Minority Educational Institutions Act
New
Delhi, March 23: The
recent amendment to the National Commission for Minority Educational
Institutions Act, 2004 has given the law more teeth. Minority educational
institutions can now be affiliated to any of the national or state universities.
Mr
Mushtaque Ahmad, advocate on record at the Supreme Court, made these
observations at a programme here organised by the Institute of Objective Studies
last evening. Shedding light on the new law, Mr Ahmad said an applicant could
enquire about the status of his or her application after 60 days.
Mr
Ahmad said the Act would ensure fast clearance of a “no objection
certificate” (NOC) for the establishment of an institution. If an applicant
did not get NOC within 90 days and was not informed about the application’s
position, it would be construed as clearance.
He said it was refreshing that the commission had been given statutory powers and its jurisdiction expanded. Now it was up to the commission to determine if a particular educational institution could be categorised as minority institution. Resolution of a dispute pertaining to a minority institution was also within its jurisdiction, Mr Ahmad explained.