A controversy has sought to be created in the media pertaining to the work of High Level Committee constituted by the Prime Minister's Office under the Chairmanship of Justice Rajindar Sachar to prepare a report on the social, economic and educational status of Muslim community of India. After having constituted the Committee, the Prime Minister's Office has not been involved with the work of the Committee.

The Terms of Reference of the High Level Committee (HLC) are as follows:

(1) The HLC will prepare a report on the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community of India. The HLC will finalise and present its report within fifteen months from the date of this notification.

(2) More specifically, the HLC will:

(a) Obtain relevant information from departments/agencies of the Central & State Governments and also conduct an intensive literature survey to identify published data, articles and research on relative social, economic and educational status of Muslims in India at the State, regional and district levels, to address, inter alia, the following questions:-

(i) In which States, Regions, Districts and Blocks do Muslims of India mostly live?

(ii) What is the geographical pattern of their economic activity, i.e. what do they mostly do for a living in various States, Regions and Districts?

(iii) What is their asset base & income levels relative to other groups across various States and Regions?

(iv) What is the level of their socio-economic development in terms of relevant indicators such as literacy rate, dropout rate, MMR, IMR etc.? How does this compare with other communities in various States?

(v) What is their relative share in public & private sector employment? Does it vary across States and what is the pattern of such variation? Is the share in employment in proportion to their population in various States? If not, what are the hurdles?

(vi) What is the proportion of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) from the Muslim community in the total OBC population in various States? Are the Muslim OBCs listed in the comprehensive list of OBCs prepared by the National and State Backward Classes Commissions and adopted by the Central and State Governments for reservation for various purposes? What is the share of Muslim OBCs in the total public sector employment for OBCs in the Centre and in various States in various years?

(vii) Does the Muslim community have adequate access to education & health services, municipal infrastructure, bank credit, & other services provided by Government/ public sector entities? How does this compare to access enjoyed by other communities in various States? What is the level of social infrastructure (schools, health centres, ICDS centers etc.) located in areas of Muslim concentration in comparison to the general level of such infrastructure in various States?

(b) Consolidate, collate and analyse the above information/literature to identify areas of intervention by Government to address relevant issues relating to the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community.

The Members of the Committee are:

(1) Shri Saiyid Hamid - Member

(2) Dr. T.K. Oommen - Member

(3) Shri M.A. Basith - Member

(4) Dr. Rakesh Basant - Member

(5) Dr, Akhtar Majeed - Member

(6) Dr. Abu Saleh Shariff - Member Secretary

The Committee has been asked to submit its report to the Government within 15 months from the date of its notification, i.e. 9th March, 2005.