Plea in SC against Sachar Committee Report claims it infringed rights of similarly placed Hindus

New Delhi: A plea against the implementation of the Sachar Committee Report has been filed before the Supreme Court on Thursday.

The plea filed by six followers of Sanatan Vedic Dharm claimed that their rights along with rights of similarly situated Hindus are being infringed due to the Sachar Committee report which recommends welfare schemes in favour of Muslim minority community.

The petition filed through Vishnu Shankar Jain has challenged the notification issued from the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Office, for constituting a High-Level Committee under the Chairmanship of Justice Rajender Sachar, to prepare a report on the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community .

The petitioners have argued that the notification dated 9.3.2005, under which the committee was constituted,no where mentions that it was being issued after any cabinet decision.

While stating Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution the plea said no religious community can be treated separately.

The petitioners have further argued that the power to appoint a commission to investigate into the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes vests with the President of India.

The petitioners also claimed that the entire Muslim community cannot be treated as a " special class" or be entitled for benefits available to backward classes since all Muslims has not been identified as socially and educationally backward class.