The State government has conferred statutory status on the State Minorities Commission.
Announcing this in the Assembly on Tuesday, Backward Classes Minister K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran said that immediately after S. Peter Alponse (Congress) made the demand in the Assembly earlier in the day, the Chief Minister had signed the necessary file to give the statutory status for the Commission.
The Minister said the Commission was constituted by the State government for safeguarding the interests of both religious and linguistic minorities.
So far, the Commission had only been a recommendatory body.
Hereafter, it would have more powers. It can function like a civil court and can summon people who were found violating the rights of minorities.
The Commission can also ask for details from various departments on issues concerning the minorities, said Rev. Fr. Vincent Chinnadurai, chairman of the Commission.
