Laxmikanth Summary: Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities | Indian Polity for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Introduction

The constitutional establishment of a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities was not initially included in the Indian Constitution. The recommendation for such an office was made by the States Reorganization Commission (1953-55). Subsequently, the 7th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1956 introduced a new provision, Article 350-B, in Part XVII of the Constitution to address this matter. This office falls under the purview of the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

Office of Assistant Commissioner

Constitutional Provisions

Originally, the Constitution of India did not make any provision for a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities. However, following a recommendation by the States Re-organization Commission (1953-55), the Seventh Constitutional Amendment Act of 1956 introduced Article 350-B in Part XVII of the Constitution. This article delineates crucial provisions:

1. Appointment: A Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities is to be appointed by the President of India.
2. Duties: The Special Officer is tasked with investigating matters concerning safeguards for linguistic minorities under the Constitution. Periodic reports on these matters are to be submitted to the President, who is then obligated to present them before each House of Parliament and send copies to the concerned state governments.

Note: The Constitution does not specify the qualifications, tenure, salaries, allowances, service conditions, and removal procedures for the Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities.

Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities

• Creation and Designation: The position of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities (CLM) was established in 1957 in accordance with Article 350-B of the Constitution.
• Headquarters and Regional Offices: The CLM operates from the headquarters in New Delhi and oversees three regional offices located in Belgaum (Karnataka), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), and Kolkata (West Bengal). Each regional office is headed by an Assistant Commissioner.
• Support Structure: At the headquarters, the CLM is supported by a Deputy Commissioner and an additional Assistant Commissioner.
• Communication with States and Union Territories: The CLM maintains communication with State Governments and Union Territories through appointed nodal officers.
• Central Level Affiliation: The CLM operates under the purview of the Ministry of Minority Affairs at the central level.
• Reporting Structure: The CLM submits required reports, including annual reports, to the President through the Union Minority Affairs Minister.

Role

1. Engagement with States/Union Territories: The CLM actively interacts with States/Union Territories on matters concerning the implementation of Constitutional and Nationally Agreed Safeguards for linguistic minorities.

2. Handling Concerns: The CLM organization addresses issues related to safeguards for linguistic minorities raised by individuals, groups, associations, or organizations.

3. On-Site Assessments: The CLM personally visits linguistic minority areas and educational institutions to conduct on-the-spot assessments, evaluating the status of safeguard implementation.

4. Discussions with Authorities: Engages in discussions, when necessary, with Chief Ministers, Governors, Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries (Education), and other high-ranking officials at the State and Union Territory levels.

5. Monitoring Implementation: Works closely with the highest levels of administration to monitor the implementation of the scheme of safeguards for linguistic minorities.

This approach provides a structured presentation with bullet points highlighting key aspects of the CLM's activities and responsibilities.

Vision and Mission

The vision and mission of CLM are mentioned here:

• Vision 
  Enhancing and reinforcing the machinery and mechanisms in place to implement Constitutional safeguards for Linguistic Minorities is a pivotal endeavor. The primary objective is to ensure the effective protection of the rights belonging to speakers of minority languages. Through this initiative, the overarching goal is to provide these language communities with equitable opportunities, fostering inclusive and integrated development. The focus lies on creating a robust framework that not only upholds constitutional provisions but also establishes a comprehensive structure to champion the rights and development of linguistic minorities.
• Mission
  Ensuring the robust and efficient implementation of Constitutional safeguards and the nationally agreed scheme of safeguards for linguistic minorities stands as a paramount objective across all states and Union Territories. This concerted effort is geared towards fostering an environment that not only upholds the prescribed Constitutional provisions but also adheres to the nationally agreed-upon framework for safeguarding the rights of linguistic minorities. The overarching goal is to provide these communities with equitable opportunities, thereby facilitating their active participation in and contribution to inclusive development initiatives. This commitment underscores the importance of creating a comprehensive and uniform approach to guaranteeing equal opportunities for linguistic minorities across diverse regions, contributing to their holistic and inclusive socio-economic development.

Functions and Objectives

In more detail, the functions and objectives of the CLM are as follows:

• Functions:
  1. Thoroughly investigating matters concerning the safeguards for linguistic minorities.
  2. Submitting comprehensive reports on the implementation status of both Constitutional and nationally agreed safeguards to the President of India.
  3. Monitoring the implementation of safeguards through various means, including questionnaires, visits, conferences, seminars, meetings, and review mechanisms.
     
• Objectives:
  1. Facilitating inclusive development and national integration by offering equal opportunities to linguistic minorities.
  2. Disseminating information among linguistic minorities about the available safeguards.
  3. Ensuring the efficient implementation of Constitutionally provided safeguards and other agreed-upon safeguards by states and Union Territories.
  4. Managing representations for the resolution of grievances related to safeguards for linguistic minorities.