Particle.news
Download on the App Store
3 ARTICLES
·
4mo ago

Tribal Groups Urge Kokrajhar Officials to Bar Non-ST Nominees From ST-Reserved BTC Seats

In a memorandum, the groups invoke constitutional provisions with supporting court rulings to seek rigorous verification before the September 22 BTC vote.

BTC election

Overview

  • The All Assam Tribal Students' Union, Bodoland Janajati Suraksha Mancha and allied bodies submitted the appeal in Kokrajhar on Saturday ahead of the September 22 Bodoland Territorial Council election.
  • The memorandum asks the Deputy Commissioner and the Election Officer to reject nominations by non-Scheduled Tribe candidates for constituencies reserved for ST communities.
  • It contends that the Sixth Schedule and the Representation of the People Act, 1951 limit eligibility in these seats to candidates recognized as Scheduled Tribes.
  • The groups cite Gauhati High Court precedents, including the 2014 judgment setting aside Naba Kumar Sarania’s election from an ST seat, a 2018 PIL directive on ST certificates, and a 2024 order upholding rejection of his ST (Plains) claim.
  • The submission calls for rigorous verification of ST certificates, public reasons for any rejection, and legal action over fraudulent claims or facilitating officials, with no official response reported so far.