Is the Karnataka Minorities Commission Just a ‘Paper Tiger’?
Four decades on, questions grow over its power, purpose, and political neglect
By Walter Bristo, Channapatna | Courtesy: Vartha Bharati News
The Karnataka State Minorities Commission, established over four decades ago to safeguard the rights and dignity of minority communities, increasingly appears to exist only in name. Despite being armed with sweeping powers on paper, the Commission has done little to address the pressing issues of discrimination, injustice, and socio-economic backwardness faced by minorities—particularly the Muslim community.
A Noble Vision Lost in Bureaucratic Silence
Constituted to uphold secular values and advise the government on policies for minority welfare, the Commission was once seen as a vital institution for social justice. Its mandate includes protecting constitutional rights, studying discrimination, promoting communal harmony, and ensuring fair representation of minorities in government institutions.
Through the Karnataka Act 13 of 2016, the Commission was vested with the powers of a Civil Court — a landmark move intended to give it authority to summon officials, demand records, and conduct investigations.
On paper, this makes it a formidable “watchdog” and “guide.” In reality, it has become an institution that barks neither at injustice nor at government indifference.
“ಅಲ್ಪಸಂಖ್ಯಾತರ ಆಯೋಗ ಕಾಗದದ ಹುಲಿ ಆಗಿದೆಯೇ? ನ್ಯಾಯ ಕಾಪಾಡಬೇಕಾದ ಆಯೋಗವೇ ನಿಷ್ಕ್ರಿಯವಾಗಿದೆಯೇ?”
Civil Court Powers — Strong in Theory, Weak in Execution
The Commission’s powers include:
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Summoning and examining any person under oath.
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Ordering the production of official documents.
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Collecting evidence through affidavits.
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Accessing public records from government offices.
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Issuing directives for witness examinations.
Such authority should have made it a strong defender of minority rights. Yet, these powers remain largely unused — leaving many to question whether the Commission has the will or the freedom to act.
A Decade Without a Single Study
Perhaps the most glaring indicator of its dormancy is the absence of substantial research or reports in recent years. The last major study — the Anwar Maniippady Committee Report of 2012, which exposed large-scale irregularities in Waqf property management — dates back more than a decade.
Since then, not a single major report has emerged. “This silence speaks volumes about the Commission’s paralysis,” noted an observer familiar with minority affairs.
“اقلیتوں کے حقوق کا محافظ خود بے بس کیوں ہے؟ کیا کرناٹک اقلیتی کمیشن صرف ایک کاغذی شیر بن چکا ہے؟”
Neglect of Core Issues
Critics argue that the Commission has failed to act on some of the most serious challenges facing minorities in Karnataka, including:
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The alarming rise in communal hatred and Islamophobia.
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The growing number of under-trial Muslim prisoners languishing in jails.
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The lack of effective measures to promote secularism within the administration and police.
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The absence of recommendations for legal action against hate speech and discrimination.
“The Commission was meant to be a shield for the weak, but it has become a silent spectator,” remarked a community leader from Bengaluru.
Meagre Budget, Minimal Impact
According to the Minority Welfare Department’s 2024–25 Annual Report, the Commission’s activities are limited to routine district visits, grievance hearings, reviewing the Prime Minister’s 15-Point Programme, meeting religious leaders, and organizing Minority Rights Day.
These symbolic activities, while well-intentioned, barely scratch the surface of the deep-rooted problems the institution was created to address.
Adding to its woes is the Commission’s annual budget of just ₹2.45 crore—a sum that barely covers salaries and operational expenses. “How can an agency protect millions of people’s rights when it can’t even fund independent studies or field investigations?” asked a retired bureaucrat.
Apathy or Incompetence?
The question remains: is the Commission’s inefficiency due to its own lack of initiative, or the government’s deliberate neglect?
With insufficient staff, funds, and autonomy, it seems designed to fail — a token body existing only to show that something is being done for minorities.
Without genuine political will, even the strongest legal provisions remain hollow. “Expecting the Commission to defend minority rights while keeping it weak and under-resourced is futile,” said a senior activist.
What the Government Must Do
If the state truly intends to uphold the constitutional promise of equality and justice, it must revitalize the Commission with adequate funding, qualified personnel, and full operational independence.
Empowerment cannot come through proclamations or commemorations — it must come through action. Karnataka’s minorities deserve not symbolic reassurance, but genuine institutional protection.
Until that happens, the question will continue to echo in the corridors of power and among the people alike:
Has the Karnataka State Minorities Commission become nothing more than a paper tiger?
❓ Important Q&As
Q1. What was the original purpose of the Karnataka State Minorities Commission?
A: It was established to protect the constitutional rights of minorities, advise the government on welfare policies, promote communal harmony, and ensure fair representation of minorities in public institutions.
Q2. Does the Commission have real powers?
A: Yes — under the Karnataka Act 13 of 2016, it was granted the powers of a Civil Court. It can summon officials, demand documents, collect evidence, and investigate complaints. However, in practice, these powers are rarely exercised.
Q3. Why is the Commission being criticised now?
A: Despite existing for over forty years, the Commission has not produced any major reports or interventions in recent years. It has failed to address issues like rising hate speech, communal violence, or the growing number of under-trial prisoners from minority communities.
Q4. What was the last major action taken by the Commission?
A: The last significant report was the Anwar Maniippady Committee Report (2012), which exposed irregularities in Waqf property management. Since then, there have been no comparable studies or findings.
Q5. How much funding does the Commission receive?
A: Its annual budget is only ₹2.45 crore, barely enough to cover salaries and office expenses — leaving little scope for fieldwork, research, or awareness campaigns.
Q6. Who is responsible for the Commission’s decline — the institution or the government?
A: Critics say it’s a mix of both: bureaucratic inertia within the Commission and a lack of political will from the government to empower it meaningfully.
Q7. What should be done to revive it?
A: Experts suggest increasing its budget, appointing qualified professionals, granting autonomy, and ensuring regular publication of reports to hold both the government and public institutions accountable.
Q8. What message does this send to Karnataka’s minorities?
A: It signals neglect and erodes faith in the state’s commitment to secularism and equality — values the Commission was created to uphold.
