The Supreme Court on Friday adjourned proceeding in the plea challenging the government’s extension of benefits to a group of people on the basis of minority among citizens.
The bench of Justice R.F. Nariman and Justice B.R. Gavai adjourned the proceeding because both parties had circulated a letter seeking adjournment. The petition, filed by Neeraj Shankar Saxena and five others, had said the petitioners are being unconstitutionally deprived of benefits available to similarly situated members of religious minorities in violation of their fundamental right.
“The petitioners and other members of the Hindu community are suffering because they have been born in the majority community. The State cannot promote or give any benefit to any religious community whether minority or majority keeping in view the secular ethos embedded in the Constitution of India,” the petition said.
The petitioners contended that by giving such “undue advantage”, the Centre is treating the Muslim community above law and the Constitution since no such benefits are given to the institutions of the Hindu community.
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It has also sought the scrapping of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, as there is already a Backward Classes Commission to find out the conditions of the backward classes that need aid.