The Delhi High Court on Friday said the vacancies for the posts of chairperson and members in the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions cannot be left unfilled since 2023, even though the law does not prescribe any timeline for such appointments.

A bench said the Centre’s stand that the court has no power to direct such appointments is “contrary to the legislative mandate” in the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions Act. The bench asked the Ministry of Education to file an affidavit detailing the steps taken by it to fill the vacancies.