Johannesburg, South Africa — The Hindu Maha Sabha has strongly criticized the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL) for establishing a Section 22 committee without consulting key religious stakeholders. The organisation has called for reforms to ensure credible inter-faith engagement.
The Hindu Maha Sabha has argued that the structure, as established under the CRL Act, lacks credibility due to the exclusion of affected faith communities from shaping the committee’s membership and mandate. The organisation has highlighted that repeated requests for meetings with CRL chairpersons prior to the committee’s launch were unsuccessful, leaving Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, and traditional leaders in the dark about the selection criteria for panel members.
The Maha Sabha has issued a formal statement, warning that the exclusion undermines the commission’s constitutional obligation to promote inclusive dialogue among religions. The dispute has raised concerns about the Act’s spirit and the country’s commitment to participatory governance.
The CRL Commission has yet to respond to these allegations, with a spokesperson indicating that a detailed statement would be issued following internal consultations, though no timeline was provided.
Religious groups are concerned that the Section 22 panel, which is expected to compile data on commercial abuse of belief systems, may face cooperation issues. Many denominations are planning to withhold their support, potentially limiting the Commission’s access to evidence. This stand-off could delay nationwide hearings scheduled for the second quarter of 2026.
The Maha Sabha is demanding the dissolution and reconstitution of the current committee through open nominations supported by recognized faith councils. Until then, the organisation advises affiliated temples to distance themselves from any CRL-led programmes, and it remains unclear whether Parliament will intervene to resolve the impasse.
Source: iol
