Telangana HC notice to BRS govt, Centre over 9-year delay in forming ST panel
The petitioner informed the court that members of the Schedule Tribes continue to face discrimination from the upper caste communities.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 24 Jun 2023 2:00 AM GMT
Hyderabad: On Friday, the Telangana High Court Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice N Tukaramji issued notices to the state chief secretary, principal secretary, Tribal Welfare commissioner, secretary National Commission for STs, and secretary of Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi directing them to provide reasons for not constituting the Commission for Scheduled Tribes in Telangana State, despite the state having more than 40 lakhs tribal population.
Bhukya Mangilal Naik, counsel for the petitioner, informed the court that, under the State Commission for Scheduled Tribes (Amendment) Bill, 2013 and Article 338(A)(9) of the Constitution of India, the state has to constitute the Commission for Scheduled Tribes. But even though nine years have passed, the state has not constituted the commission.
Further, the petitioner informed the court that members of the Schedule Tribes continue to face discrimination from the upper caste communities. This involves not receiving sufficient funds from authorities concerned for their all-around development, which has been delayed in the absence of a state commission for the STs.
The case was adjourned to August 17, 2023.
