Minority Rights: An Overview

  • Mani Munjal
  • June 24, 2020

Content :

The literal meaning of Minority as per the Oxford Dictionary is “The smaller number or part, especially a number or part representing less than half of the whole.” Efforts by non-dominant groups to preserve their cultural, religious or ethnic differences emerged with the creation of nation States in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The recognition and protection of minority rights under international law began with the League of Nations through the adoption of several “minority treaties”. The term “minority” itself is not defined in the Indian Constitution. India is a mass of diversities including large varieties of people with different religion, caste,culture, language, race, caste, standard of living, tribes, food habits, and so on. This numeral difference in the strength of believers of various religions is a fertile ground for communal violence and riots. Minorities around the world are also often the victims of armed conflicts and internal strife.  India has an inglorious history and legacy of many communal clashes and ferocity.  Persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities are also often victims of multiple discrimination and they may lack access to, among other things, adequate housing, land and property, and even a nationality. The framers of the Indian Constitution were extremely cautious to provide for special privileges and rights for the minority community. In this context, this piece of paper of intends to throw some light on various provisions of Indian constitution and International Law on Minority Rights and Policies to safeguard and protect their interests.