SHILLONG, MAY 21: The state government will examine the demand seeking deletion of other tribes from the Schedule Tribe list of the state by amending the Constitution (Schedule Tribe) Order 1950.
The demand was recently made by the traditional headmen under the banner of the Synjuk Ki Nongsynshar Shnong Ka Nongthymma Pyllun based on the judgment passed by the Supreme Court last year.
The Apex Court had stated that a person belonging to a scheduled caste or scheduled tribe in one state cannot be deemed to be SC/ST in other state where he migrated for the purpose of employment or education.
Reacting to a query on the issue, deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters that the state government will definitely examine the demand.
“It would also be better (for the Synjuk) to bring the mater to state Assembly’s SC/ST Committee so that it can be discussed and make necessary recommendation to the state government,” Tynsong suggested.
When asked, the deputy chief minister however said that he was not aware that a circular issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on May 2, 1975 to all the states and union territories.
The MHA’s circular had also stated that a person migrates from one state to another, he can claim to belong to a SC or ST only in relation to the state to which he originaly belonged and not in respect of the state to which he has migrated.
Earlier while extending its full support to the Synjuk, the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) state youth wing had slammed the state government for its failure to comply with the circular.
In view of this, the youth wing also decided to soon circulate the circular issued by the MHA to all the 60 MLAs of the state for their necessary intervention into the need to amend the Constitution (Schedule Tribe) Order 1950.
According to the president of the youth wing Thomas Passah, the failure of the state government to rectify this serious anomaly has led to paving way for other tribes to enjoy the privileges of the genuine indigenous tribes of the state.
“This has also led to land alienation as the people from other tribes recognised in the list of ST in the state can buy land besides they do not have to apply for trading license for carrying out businesses in the state,” he had stated.
By Our Reporter
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