Minister demands rule changes for opening minority schools

Minority Affairs Minister K Rehman Khan has urged the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry to amend the Central Broad of Secondary Education (CBSE) Rules to ensure that the opening of schools for minority communities did not require no-objection certificates from the state governments.

Rehman Khan said on Friday at a function organised by the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) here that many proposals for opening of schools for minorities had been pending in various states because the respective governments were not giving no-objection certificates.

“It should be their (minorities) choice to open institutions. Nobody can prevent the minority from establishing an educational institution of their choice. No state is giving NoC for opening minority schools. Each state is taking their own decision, while some are negating minority rights. Your rules have been framed contrary to Constitution,” he said and urged HRD Minister Pallam Raju attending the function to amend the CBSE rules to allow opening of minority schools without NoC. Khan said there was need to bring more clarity to the Article 30 of the Constitution which stipulates that all minorities, whether based on religion or language, must have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.

“Mere grant of fundamental rights (to the minority) is not enough. More substantial legislation is necessary to enable people from minority communities realise their rights. They cannot run from pillar to post for their rights. Every time their right is denied and they are left with no option but to knock on the doors of the court,” Khan said.