Minority status to non-Muslims: SC gives last chance to J-K Govt. to file reply

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave final chance to the Jammu and Kashmir Government to file a reply within three months on the issue of the minority status to non-Muslims in the state. Earlier the apex court asked the state government to constitute a committee to decide on the anomaly. Jammu and Kashmir government in its reply stated that the meeting couldn't be convened due to the prevailing law and order situation in the state. The top court observed that the reply of the state is akin to insulting and making fun of the court. The plea was field by Ankur Sharma, questioning the minority status of the Jammu and Kashmir's Muslims. Earlier, the apex court asked the Centre and State Government to sit together and deal with the issue jointly. In February, the court had imposed a cost of Rs 30,000 on the Centre for not filing its reply to a PIL alleging that minority benefits are being enjoyed by majority Muslims in the state. Jammu-based lawyer Ankur Sharma, in his plea, has alleged that benefits accruing to minorities were being taken away by Muslims who were in a majority in Jammu and Kashmir. The plea also alleged that rights of religious and linguistic 'minorities' in the state were being "siphoned off illegally and arbitrarily" due to extension of benefits to "unqualified sections" of the population. He has also sought directions for constitution of a minority commission in Jammu and Kashmir and extension of the National Minorities Commission Act to the state. (This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI)