3 BJP states to seek SC/ ST order review
In a multi- pronged strategy to contain the damage over the Supreme Court’s dilution of the SC/ ST Act, the BJP directed three of its state governments, in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, which are soon heading for polls, to file review petitions against the court’s March 20 order. Tamil Nadu has also decided to move the Supreme Court against its order.
The Central government was forced to file a review petition against the order after massive protests by dalit groups. Kerala has already filed a review petition.
Home ministry sources said more states are likely to move the Supreme Court, and the state governments are with the Centre on seeking a recall of the earlier order. The Centre is also reportedly keeping an ordinance ready to annul the order.
The three BJP- led state governments had reportedly taken steps to implement the court’s earlier order, but the three chief ministers were then asked by the BJP top brass to file review petitions.
In a multi pronged strategy to contain damage over the fall out of the said dilution of the SC/ ST Act by the Supreme Court, the Centre has swung into action with the saffron party apparently directing three of its state governments in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to file a review pleas against the apex court's March 20 directive. Tamil Nadu has also decided to move the Supreme Court against its order on the SC/ ST Act. The Centre was forced to file a review petition against the apex court's order after massive protests by dalit groups. Kerala has already filed a review petition. Sources in the Union home ministry indicated that more states will move the apex court and that state governments are with the Centre on the issue of recalling the Supreme Court's earlier order. Sources also said that the Centre is keeping ready an ordinance to annul the order of the court, depending on the outcome of its review petition against the apex court's March 20 directive.
The three BJP's poll going states — Chhattisgarh, MP, and Rajasthan had reportedly taken steps to implement the apex court's earlier order against which the Centre was forced to file a review petition in the wake of largescale protests by dalit organisations, which saw it as the dilution of the Act. But the chief ministers of the three states were then asked by the BJP top brass to file review petitions in the apex court. The BJP is already facing opposition and dalit groups onslaught over the apex court's order. Meanwhile, Union minister and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan, viewed as the government's face on dalit issues, claimed that Centre will now push for reservation for SC/ ST in promotion in government jobs and may bring an ordinance.