HC Notice to TS Govt on Quota for Tribals

HYDERABAD: A Division Bench of the Telangana High Court comprising Acting Chief Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili and Justice N. Rajeshwar Rao on Tuesday issued notices to the Chief Secretary, principal secretary and commissioner of tribal welfare department, on a PIL seeking direction to the state government to reserve all the posts of presidents, ZPTC members, posts of directors and chairpersons of cooperative bodies in agency areas, posts of presidents/chairman and members of water users association in scheduled areas for local tribals only.

Bhukya Deva Naik, general secretary of Lambadi Hakkula Porata Samithi (Nangara Bheri), Tekulapally mandal, Kothagudem district had filed the PIL seeking a direction to the government, to issue a notification in this regard in the exercise of powers conferred in the 5th Schedule of the Constitution of India.

Counsel for the petitioner informed the court that 12 per cent population of the state comprises tribals, who are primitive, geographically isolated, shy and socially, economically, and educationally backward and for their upliftment in all fields, people from local areas should be appointed to various offices mentioned above.

The Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) is established as mandated in paragraph 4 of the Schedule V of our Constitution for the all-round development of tribals in agency areas, which gives advice to the government on matters pertaining to welfare.

The court after hearing the contentions of the petitioners, directed the respondent authorities to respond to the notices within four weeks.