I teach at an institute which is not a minority institution and is required to follow the government norms. So, I do not know much about what exactly are the rules for minority institutions. Are there any members on this list who can enlighten what exactly are the benefits that these institutions have if they are classified as minority?
Best regards, U. G. Barad. High court: Diocesan society schools are minority institutions Author: TNN Publication: The Times of India Date: August 22, 2012 URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/High-court-Diocesan-society-scho ols-are-minority-institutions/articleshow/15594172.cms The high court of Bombay at Goa has held that schools run by the diocesan society of education are minority educational institutions and entitled to protection under Article 30(1) of the Indian Constitution. The verdict came on a petition filed by a teacher Ivy da Conceicao, who alleged that she was not considered for the post of principal in the society's high secondary schools even though she was senior to those appointed as principals in various diocesan schools. A division bench comprising justice AP Lavande and justice UV Bakre observed, "The schools run by the society are minority educational institutions and entitled to protection under Article 30(1) of the Constitution of India in terms of the certificate issued by the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions, New Delhi, not only from June 29, 2009, but also from the date of pronouncement of the judgment by this court (in Harmal Panchakroshi Shikshan Mandal and another versus state of Goa and others)." In the case of Harmal Panchakroshi Shikshan Mandal, the high court had recorded that the diocesan society is a minority educational institution. While stating that the apex court has upheld the right of minority educational institution to appoint a teacher having requisite qualification as headmaster of its school, the high court observed that Conceicao did not state that the respondents do not have the minimum qualification for being appointed school principals. The court observed, "We fail to understand as to how the petitioner having accepted the terms and conditions mentioned in her letter of appointment can turn around and challenge the minority status of the society, solely for the purpose of challenging the appointments of respondents as principals of the higher secondary schools run by the society." Conceicao had alleged that that the society is neither a religion based minority institution nor satisfies any of the requirements for labeling it as religion based minority institution, within the meaning of Article 30 of the Constitution of India. She claimed that Roman Catholics in Goa are not notified by the central government as "minority community" under Section 2(g) of the National Commission For Minority Educational Institution Act, 2004. She pointed out that that the society has not been recognized as a minority school or minority institution by the appropriate authority under Section 5 of the Goa School Education Act, 1984. Conceicao alleged that the society claimed it is a minority institution with an oblique motive to support the illegal action in respect of various appointments by promotion made to the posts of principal. During the hearing of the case, senior counsel JE Coelho Pereira, who appeared for the society, submitted that the institutions run by the diocesan society are minority educational institutions, as disclosed by certificate dated June, 24, 2009, issued by National Commission for Minority Educational Institution, New Delhi. Conceicao, having accepted the minority status of the institution in terms of the appointment letter, is now not entitled to challenge the status of the society, he argued. The society also relied upon the statistical handbook of Goa, issued by the state government, in terms of which, Christians number about 26.68% of the population of the state, as per 2001 census.
