Chief Minister’s ST status

SHILLONG, MAR 31: The State Level Scrutiny Committee (SLSC) has directed the petitioners All North East Indigenous Garo Law Promoters’ Association (ANEIGLP) who challenged the schedule tribe status of chief minister Mukul Sangma and his brother who is also sports minister Zenith Sangma, to file their affidavits in support of their claims even as the petitioners objected to appearing before the committee.

The ANEIGLP secretary Edbirth D Shira said in a letter to the under secretary of the social welfare department M Chyne on Monday “We are not responsible as well as answerable to the SLSC but only to the Supreme Court of India. So the question of appearing either in person or through the appointed counsel does not arise.”

Shira argued that the SLSC set up by the Meghalaya government to probe into the status of the chief minister and his brother should have called Mukul Sangma and Zenith Sangma and those involved in obtaining false caste certificate to proof their ST status.

In its hearing held on Monday, the SLSC has directed the All North East Indigenous Garo Law Promoters’ Association (ANEIGLP) to file their affidavits to support their claims by April 17, sources said here.

Sources also informed that the petitioners and respondent advocates deposed before the committee headed by T Dkhar.

In compliance with the direction of the Supreme Court order issued on January 20, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), New Delhi, directed the SLSC to submit its report to the commission by March 21 for filing reply in the Supreme Court within the stipulated time.- By Our Reporter

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