The Telangana Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed the Telangana Commission for Backward Classes (Amendment) Bill, 2016 amidst several doubts raised by the Opposition parties.
Forest & Environment, Backward Classes Welfare Minister Jogu Ramanna introduced the bill in the House. Expressing his views TDP member R Krishnaiah said the Commission has remained a toothless tiger. He asked the government to give powers to the commission and then only pass the Bill. He said there was no monitoring system even though injustice meted out to the BCs in recent recruitments in the State. The BC Commission was confined to include or exclude the castes from the list of BC Castes.
Demanding the State government to transform the Commission as a nodal agency and a monitoring agency, Krishnaiah said there was no questioning authority in the State though several attacks were taking place on BCs. BJP member Dr K Laxman alleged that 26 castes were removed from the BC list due to the delay in appointment of BC Commission in the newly-formed State. He said the High Court too found fault with the removal of 26 castes from the list of BCs. He asked the State government to increase the range of the Commission.
Finding fault with the appointment of B S Ramulu as chairman of the BC Commission, Laxman said the chairman must have legal background. It was not correct to the state government to amend the acts against the spirit of the Constitution. The decisions will not stand in the courts if the government takes decisions to meet its political interests. He demanded that the State government include 26 castes in the BCs’ list and re-examine the amendment to the BC Commission.
Welcoming the Bill, Congress member SA Sampath Kumar said the appointment of the BC Commission members, including chairman looks like a political rehabilitation to the ruling party members. He demanded that the State government appoint SC, ST, Minority and Women Commissions immediately.
CPM member Sunnam Rajaiah asked the government to give full powers to the Commission and said then only justice will be done. Minister Jogu Ramanna said the State government examined all aspects and made amendments.
Later, the House passed the Bill. (NSS)