Chapter I PRELIMINARY

1. (1) This Act may be called the Maharashtra State Minorities Commission Act, 2004.
2. (2) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 24th August 2004.
3. (3) It shall extend to the whole of the State of Maharashtra.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

1. (a) "Commission" means the Maharashtra State Minorities Commission constituted under section 3 of the Act;
2. (b) "Government" means the Government of Maharashtra;
3. (c) "Member" means a Member of the Commission;
4. (d) "Minorities" means the communities residing in the State of Maharashtra declared by the Government as minority communities, by order in the Official Gazette, from time to time;
5. (e) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
6. (f) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Commission.