ST & SC to meet again on amendment

SHILLONG, JULY 24: The national Schedule Caste (SC) and Schedule Tribe (ST) groups have agreed to have another round of discussion and consultation on the need of amending Article 388 and 388A of the Indian Constitution so that the SC and ST commissions reports are placed before parliament within three months and action taken reports are placed within six months before parliament.

This decision was taken during the meeting between Dr G Vinod Kumar, PhD, PGHDR, u Principal, PG College of Law, Osmania University and Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya (GCCM) chairman John F Kharshiing, who is also the convener of the National Tribal Council of India on Thursday.

The SC and ST groups from across the country felt the need to create awareness among the political parties for the need to urgently amend article 388 and 388A of the Indian Constitution.

The meeting was also attended by Madhusudan CS Advocate and Telengana ST leader.

“It was agreed during the meeting that further consultations and discussions would be held on the matter between the SC and ST groups all over India to create awareness among political parties for the need to urgently amend article 338 and 338A,” Kharshiing informed in a statement..

As part of the nationwide campaign to call for amendment of Article 338, Kharshiing also handed over a copy of memorandum to Union Tribal Minister Jual Oram relating to the urgent need to amend article 338, and 338A of the Constitution of India

It was pointed out that many reports of the scheduled caste and scheduled tribes have not been placed before Parliament and a number of states are yet to constitute, notify separate state SC and ST Commissions, Kharshiing said.

Kharshiing also informed that a number of recommendations and directives of 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, of the SC and ST Commissions have not been implemented undermining the  spirit and mandate of Article 338 an 338A of the Constitution making a mockery  of the hard work of the separate quasi judicial National SC & ST Commissions.

In fact the prior to bifurcation in 2004, the combined National Commission for SC & ST in 1997-1998 had recommended amending Article 338 so that Commission reports are placed before parliament within three months and action taken reports are placed within six months before parliament along with Memorandum 1 ATR (Action Taken Report), Proposed Action to be taken and Reasons for non-acceptance of recommendations by Commissions if any, Kharshiing said.- By Our Reporter