The EOC, which has already got the PMO’s go ahead and is aimed at ‘enhancing the legal basis for providing equal opportunities’, was one of the key recommendations made by the Justice Rajinder Sachar committee in its report. The committee had said, “It is a well accepted maxim in law that not only must justice be done, but it must appear to be done. It is in that context that the committee recommends that an EOC should be constituted by the government to look into the grievances of deprived groups.”

The committee report when taken to the Cabinet in May 2007 decided that “the widespread feeling of discrimination among the Muslim community will be addressed by setting up an Equal Opportunities Commission to look into the grievances of deprived groups. An expert group will be set up to examine and determine the structure and function of an EOC. We expect this mechanism to operate in a manner which gives confidence to the minorities that any denial of equal opportunity or bias or discrimination in dealing with them will be attended to and redressal given”.

The EOC is envisaged as vested with the powers of a civil court to summon and investigate and recommend action without passing any sentences. A panel headed by legal expert N R Madhava Menon was set up by the MMA to help finalise the nature and functions of the EOC. The panel’s report was circulated to various ministries a month back for their suggestions. It is during this exercise that the MMA has faced a roadblock unexpectedly from the HRD Ministry. Ministerial views have to be taken into account before taking proposals to the Cabinet.