Advisory role for equal opportunity commission.

THE CENTRE has decided to make the proposed Equal Opportunities Commission ( EOC) a statutory body. It will be on the lines of the National Human Rights Commission ( NHRC) and the National Minorities Commission.

Setting aside recommendations of an expert group that it should be a constitutional body like the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, the Centre has visualised an advisory role for the EOC. Ruling out a constitutional amendment, the Union ministry for minority affairs has prepared the Equal Opportunities Commission Bill to be tabled in the Winter Session of Parliament.

Sources said the ministry had considered " many" recommendations of the expert group, chaired by eminent jurist Dr NR Madhava Menon, while preparing the draft Bill.

" Based on the expert committee report, we had consulted various ministries, individuals and organisations. A constitutional amendment may further delay the establishment of the EOC," a key functionary in the ministry said.

Minority affairs minister Salman Khurshid had said on Monday that the Bill to set up an EOC would be tabled in the winter session, which will begin on Thursday. The Sachar committee was the first to recommend an EOC to address growing disparities in the country.

A model Bill had stated that an " Equal Opportunity Commission is found necessary" to ensure inclusive growth fulfils the goals of social justice incorporated in the directives principles in the Constitution. The Bill also ensured that whichever authority performs a public function could come under the EOC's scanner, be it under government or private management.

The UPA government had included passing of the EOC Bill in its " immediate" agenda. The minority affairs ministry had sought views of the law ministry, national minorities' commission, NHRC, National Commission for Scheduled Castes and the human resource development ministry before drafting the Bill.

It's also learnt the law ministry had insisted that the chairman of the EOC should be a retired or sitting judge of the Supreme Court.

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