MARGAO: Expressing its opposition to the political appointments, GAKUVED has demanded that the vacant post of the chairman of Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes Commission be filled immediately with a practising lawyer.
GAKUVED president Rupesh Velip said, “The post of the chairperson of the ST/SC Commission is vacant since September. It appears that the government has not taken any decision to appoint a new chairperson for such an important post whose primary duty is to protect rights of tribals and their interests.”
“Many serious and important cases related to land rights, atrocities including the crucial case of transfer of physically disabled anganwadi worker Lata Gaonkar from Sattari to Quepem are pending before the commission. Being constitutional post, human rights of ST/SC are affected and it cannot be kept vacant,” the federation reminded.
“The chairperson of ST/SC commission has got powers of civil court judge and to give justice to the SC/ST Community, we demand that the post should be filled with a well-experienced practising lawyer with at least 10 years experience in the legal field or any retired judge from SC/ST community who has knowledge of court proceedings and who has worked for the welfare of the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes,” it demanded.
“It is important that at such a responsible post of commissioner, the person appointed should be neutral person and should not be attached or affiliated to any political party. The person appointed should be capable of using his powers to the best of his ability and give correct judgment based on the facts and findings of the particular case. His judgments/verdicts should not be politically influenced nor there should be any pressure from the government on him to do his duties,” the Federation said.
