The National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992

(1) This Act may be called the National Commissionfor Minorities Act, 1992. (2) It extends to the whole of India 1***. (3) It shall come into force on such date2as the Central Government may, by notification in theOfficial Gazette, appoint.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-- (a) "Commission" means the National Commission for Minorities constituted under section 3; (b) "Member" means a Member of the Commission 1[and includes the Vice-Chairperson]; (c) "minority", for the purposes of this Act, means a community notified as such by the CentralGovernment; (d) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act.

(1) The Central Government shallconstitute a body to be known as the National Commission for Minorities to exercise the powersconferred on, and to perform the functions assigned to, it under this Act. (2) The Commission shall consist of a 1[Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and five Members] to benominated by the Central Government from amongst persons of eminence, ability and integrity: Provided that five Members including the Chairperson shall be from amongst the minoritycommunities.

(1) The Chairpersonand every Member shall hold office for a term of three years from the date he assumes office. (2) The Chairperson or a Member may, by writing under his hand addressed to the CentralGovernment, resign from the office of Chairperson or, as the case may be, of the Member at any time. (3) The Central Government shall remove a person from the office of Chairperson or a Memberreferred to in sub-section (2) if that person-- (a) becomes an undischarged insolvent; (b) is convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for an offence which, in the opinion of theCentral Government, involves moral turpitude; (c) becomes of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court; (d) refuses to act or becomes incapable of acting; (e) is, without obtaining leave of absence from the Commission, absent from three consecutivemeetings of the Commission; or (f) has, in the opinion of the Central Government, so abused the position of Chairperson orMember as to render that person's continuance in office detrimental to the interests of minorities orthe public interest: Provided that no person shall be removed under this clause until that person has been given areasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter. (4) A vacancy caused under sub-section (2) or otherwise shall be filled by fresh nomination. (5) The salaries and allowances payable to, and the other terms and conditions of service of, theChairperson and Members shall be such as may be prescribed.

(1) The Central Government shall providethe Commission with a Secretary and such other officers and employees as may be necessary for theefficient performance of the functions of the Commission under this Act. (2) The salaries and allowances payable to, and the other terms and conditions of service of, theofficers and other employees appointed for the purpose of the Commission shall be such as may beprescribed.