The Hindu : Karnataka News : DSS opposes SC quota for Moger caste

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Tuesday, Jun 28, 2011
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Karnataka

Karnataka

DSS opposes SC quota for Moger caste

Correspondent

Karwar: The Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (DSS) has opposed the decision of Uttara Kannada Zilla Panchayat to extend the facility of the Scheduled Castes to people belonging to the Moger fishermen community who are already in the possession of the SC certificate.

DSS local unit president Deepak Kudalkar told presspersons on Monday that there was a conspiracy by the members of the zilla panchayat to usurp the facility available to the Dalits.

He said despite the government's instruction to the officials to not issue SC certificate to the persons not belonging to the Dalit community, the certificates were being issued.

He said that the Moger community was most backward but they were not fishermen community in Dakshina Kannada district where they were entitled to the reservation.

But the Mogers in Uttara Kannada were fishermen and were availing the facility because of the similarity in the name of the caste, he said.

Mr. Kudalkar said that the zilla panchayat did not have the powers to decide who belonged to SC category.

Only the SC/ ST Commission could decide it. Despite the government instruction, the officials, including the chief executive officer of the zilla panchayat kept mum and gave tacit support to the zilla panchayat members who belonged to the Moger community in the last meeting, he said.

He said the matter was pending in the High Court. “Uday Naik, vice-president of zilla panchayat, always acts as a proxy president while Lakshmi Lamani keeps mum through out the zilla panchayat meeting.

Mr. Naik has no authority to direct the officials to extend the SC facility to the people who are already in possession of the SC certificate. Once the government has passed the order that Mogers in Uttara Kannada district do not fall under the SC category, who is Mr. Naik to direct the officials to act contrary to the government notification?” he said.

Mr. Kudalkar said that P.L. Purne, chairman of National SC Commission, would be visiting Bangalore and a delegation of Dalits would meet him to apprise him of the problem.

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