Explanation:

A linguistic minority is a class of people whose mother tongue is different from that of the majority in the state or part of a state. the constitution provides for the protection of the interests of linguistic minorities.About 36.3 million of India’s 1.2 billion strong population ( as per the Census of 2011) speak an “absolute minority language”, a language which in every of India’s 28 States forms a minority.

Objectives of the Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities

• To provide equal opportunities to the linguistic minorities for inclusive development and national integration
• To spread awareness amongst the linguistic minorities regarding the rights that safeguard them.
• To ensure effective implementation of the rights and safeguards guaranteed by the Constitution of India

Accordingly, the Seventh Constitutional Amendment Act of 1956 inserted a new Article 350-B in Part XVII of the Constitution. This article contains the following provisions: There should be a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities.

He/she is to be appointed by the President of India. It would be the duty of the Special Officer to investigate all matters relating to the safeguards provided for linguistic minorities under the Constitution.

At the Central level, the Commissioner falls under the Ministry of Minority Affairs. He/she would report to the President upon those matters at such intervals as the President may direct. The President should place all such reports before each House of Parliament and send it to the governments of the states concerned. It must be noted here that the Constitution does not specify the qualifications, tenure, salaries and allowances, service conditions, and procedure for removal of the Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities.