The Gujarat High court today issued a notice to the Union government over a 2002 legislation which removed three communities from the list of scheduled tribes (ST) and scheduled castes (SC).
The division bench of Justice Akil Kureshi and Justice J B Pardiwala directed the Centre to file reply by September 29, explaining the deletion of Koli, Pardhi and Devipujak (Vaghri) communities.
Bakul Thakor has challenged the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) Order (Amendment) Act of 2002. The amendment shifted these three Kutch-based communities to ‘Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC)’.
Petition says that no reason was given for this move.
Advocate Vidita Jayaswal, Thakor’s lawyer, argued that the change in status has deprived these communities of various benefits.