Lucknow,September 16: The Allahabad High Court on Monday stayed the Uttar Pradesh government’s order to include seventeen other backward castes among the scheduled castes,causing a set-back.
The government had taken a decision in this regard at the end of June last and issued the necessary order the same month.All district magistrates had been asked to issue SC certificates to members of all these castes which included Kewat(boatman) and Kumhar( potter).
The Centre had taken exception to it.In reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha the government had said that proper procedure was not followed in this connection.The High Court was simultaneously approached.
Under the Constitution a state government is not empowered to do so.It can at best make a request to the home ministry to consider such a proposal.
Most of these castes were pressing for including them in the SC list.The government buckled under their pressure.
