During the months of May and June 1997 the following Statutory Recommendations under Section 9 of the NCM Act have been made to the Governments/other concerned authorities:

i) Enactment of a comprehensive law by Parliament formulating details of the Minorities' Educational and Cultural Rights guaranteed by Articles 29-30 of the Constitution in the original spirit of these provisions so as to dispel doubts arising in this regard from time to time.

ii) Pending such legislation, strict enforcement of the HRD Ministry's Policy Norms and Principles on Recognition of Minority Institutions, notified in 1989.

iii) Exemption of candidates belonging to Minority communities, for at least 15 years, from UGC's NET requirement for appointment as teachers in universities and colleges.

iv) Amendment of the Jamia Millia Islamia Act 1988 to specify and preserve minority character of the University.

v) Enactment of central legislation on Dairatul Ma'ari, Hyderabad and Dargah Syed Salar Masood Ghazi, Bahraich, on the lines of the Salarjung Museum Act 1961 and Ajmer Dargah Act 1955 respectively, to ensure their proper management and utilization of funds.

vi) Statutory clarification of the term "Special Consideration to Minorities" appearing in the text of Prime Minister's 15-Point Programme 1983, so as to allow relaxation of general requirements concerning age, education and experience (as available for SC/STs).

vii) Repeal of the Proviso in Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950 denying SC status on the basis of religion.

viii) Establishment of Minorities Commissions and Minorities Development and Finance Corporations in all those States where they do not exist at present.

(Source: The NCM Newsletter: Minorities in India, Summer 1997)