Mandal Commission
The Second Backward Classes Commission (Mandal Commission)
By an Order made by the President of India, in the year 1979, under Article 340 of the Constitution, a Backward Class Commission was appointed to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes within the territory of India, which Commission is popularly known as Mandal Commission. The terms of reference of the Commission were:
"The terms of reference of the Commission were:--
(i) to determine the criteria for defining the socially and educationally backward classes;
(ii) to recommend steps to be taken for the advancement of the socially and educationally backward classes of citizen so identified;
(iii) to examine the desirability or otherwise of making provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of such backward classes of citizens which are not adequately represented in public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or of any State; and
(iv) (to) present to the President a report setting out the facts as found by them and making such recommendations as they think proper."
The Commission was empowered to :--
"(a) obtain such information as they may consider necessary or relevant for their purpose in such form and such manner as they may think appropriate, from the Central Government, the State Government, the Unioin Territory Administrations and such other authorities, organisations or individuals as may, in the opinion of the Commission, be of assistance to them; and
(b) hold their sittings or the sittings qf such sub-committees as they may appoint from amongst their own members at such times and such places as may be determined by, or under the authority of the Chairman."
The report of the Commission was required to be submitted not later than 31st December, 1979, which date was later extended up to December 31, 1980. It was so submitted.
Chapter I of the Report deals with the Constitution of First Backward Classes
By an Order made by the President of India, in the year 1979, under Article 340 of the Constitution, a Backward Class Commission was appointed to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes within the territory of India, which Commission is popularly known as Mandal Commission. The terms of reference of the Commission were:
"The terms of reference of the Commission were:--
(i) to determine the criteria for defining the socially and educationally backward classes;
(ii) to recommend steps to be taken for the advancement of the socially and educationally backward classes of citizen so identified;
(iii) to examine the desirability or otherwise of making provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of such backward classes of citizens which are not adequately represented in public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or of any State; and
(iv) (to) present to the President a report setting out the facts as found by them and making such recommendations as they think proper."
The Commission was empowered to :--
"(a) obtain such information as they may consider necessary or relevant for their purpose in such form and such manner as they may think appropriate, from the Central Government, the State Government, the Unioin Territory Administrations and such other authorities, organisations or individuals as may, in the opinion of the Commission, be of assistance to them; and
(b) hold their sittings or the sittings qf such sub-committees as they may appoint from amongst their own members at such times and such places as may be determined by, or under the authority of the Chairman."
The report of the Commission was required to be submitted not later than 31st December, 1979, which date was later extended up to December 31, 1980. It was so submitted.
Chapter I of the Report deals with the Constitution of First Backward Classes