The Hindu : New Delhi News : Directive on usage of word ‘Dalit’

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Sunday, Jan 20, 2008
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New Delhi

Directive on usage of word ‘Dalit’

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has asked the Union and State governments not to use the word ‘Dalit’ in official documents and correspondence as a substitute for the ‘Scheduled Castes’ (SCs) as it has no constitutional validity.

A directive to this effect was issued by the Commission late last year in consultation with the Union Law Ministry after it came to the NCSC’s notice that the word ‘Dalit’ was being used in place of ‘Scheduled Castes’ in day-to-day correspondence of the government at all levels.

In its directive, the Commission cited Clause 24 of Article 366 which clearly defines SCs. Since the word ‘Dalit’ does not feature anywhere in the Constitution and there is no government order sanctifying its use, the Commission has taken the view that it cannot be used in place of the ‘SCs’ in official correspondence.

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