(1) This Act may be called the West Bengal Minorities' Commission Act, 1996.
(2) It extends to the whole of West Bengal.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification, appoint.
Short title, extent and commencement.
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— Definitions.
(a) "Commission" means the West Bengal Minorities' Commission constituted under section 3;
(b) "Member" means a Member of the Commission;
(c) "Minority", for the purpose of this Act, means a community based on religion such as Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, or Zoroastrian (Parsee), and includes—
(i) such other minority as the Central Government may notify under clause (c) of section 2 of the National 19 of 1992. Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, or 169 The West Bengal Minorities' Commission Act, 1996.
[West Ben. Act (Sections 3, 4.)
Constitution of the Commission.
Functions of the Commission.
(ii) such other minority based on language within the purview of article 29 of the Constitution of Indian (hereinafter referred to as the Constitution) as the State Government may, by notification, specify from time to time;
(d) "notification" means a notification published in the Official Gazette;
(e) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act.