NEW DELHI, July 12:
The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Centre on a petition that Jammu and Kashmir’s majority population, comprising of Muslims, should not be given chance to reap the benefits of the Central Government schemes for their welfare.
A division bench, headed by Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur, issued the notice to the Central Government after hearing a Public Interest Litigation from the petitioner, Ankur Sharma.
Mr Sharma contended that Muslims, who almost constitute 68 per cent of Jammu and Kashmir’s population, should not claim a “minority” status in the State.
The Supreme Court also issued notice to the Jammu and Kashmir State Government and the National Minorities Commission, besides the Central Government.
The petitioner has sought the SC’s intervention in cancelling the benefits offered to the minorities welfare in the State under the Prime Minister’s 15-point guidelines.
Mr Sharma told the court that there was no State Minority Commission in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Apex Court also refused to pass any interim order to block the benefits of the Central schemes from being availed by the majority population in the northern State. (UNI)