New Delhi (AsiaNews) "We welcome the passage of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (Amendment) Bill. It gives a clear message to all that the constitutional rights given to the minorities cannot be trampled but must be honoured," Fr Babu Joseph, spokesman of the Bishops' Conference of India, told AsiaNewsi. He was referring to the March 10 vote in India's lower house of parliament, the Lok Sabha, which opened all educational facilities to every Indian citizen.
The draft law, which had already been approved by the Rajya Sabha or upper (federal) house, gives minority educational institutions the right to become affiliated with any of the country's universities. Until now they could do so only with six universities.
Minister of State for Human Resource Development M. A. Fatmi said during the parliamentary debate that each state has 90 days to issue a 'No Objection' certificate to any request for affiliation. Should a state fail to issue the certificate "it will be automatically construed as an approval". If it does object, it will have to notify a "reason for refusal". And in such a case, the minority educational institution can still turn to the Commission which would in turn make a decision in consultation with the state.
"By approving this law, the government has set in motion a process that redresses minorities' old grievances in the field of education, [minorities] who set up and have maintained their own institutions for the benefit of their own communities but also society as a whole," Father Joseph said.