Debate continues on tribe status for Gujjars

By IANS

Jaipur : Should the Gujjar community be given tribal status? The violence may have died down since early June but the issue continues to be debated with a government-appointed committee hearing arguments from both the Gujjars and the Meenas, who already have tribal status and are vehemently against the move to extend the same status to the Gujjars.


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The committee headed by retired high court judge Jasraj Chopra Friday heard arguments from the two communities. While the Gujjars have already presented their case through documents, photo albums, CDs and affidavits, community members are now testifying in person.

The Meenas, however, have raised objections and sought physical verification of the documents provided by the Gujjars.

Rajasthan High Court Thursday also asked the state government to give details on the scope of the Justice Chopra committee by Aug 17.

Justice K.S. Rathore asked the state government to clarify the areas, functions and points that would be considered by the committee.

He was responding to a petition that stated that the government had not followed the proper method of issuing notification for the formation of the committee.

Another petition said no state government or union territory had the power to constitute a commission or committee on reservations.

“As per article 338-a (9) of the Indian Constitution, every union and every state government shall consult the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes on all major policy matters affecting them, and in this case, the state government has on its own formed the commission which is contrary to the article,” the petition said.

Requesting the court to restrain the committee from working, the petitioner said this move of the government would inflate caste wars in Rajasthan.

The committee was formed after protesting Gujjars and the state government reached an agreement June 4, according to which a retired high court judge was to head a three-member committee that would look into the demands of Gujjars.

While Chopra was made head of the committee, renowned sociologist Yogesh Atal was appointed as member.

The Gujjars, who are classified as other backward classes (OBCs), had held violent protests all over the state from May 29 to June 4 demanding their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe category for better job and educational opportunities. At least 26 people were killed in the violence.

The committee is supposed to submit its report to the state government in three months.

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