Caste Census a conspiracy to strip SC/STs of their rights: Forum chief

CONFEDERATION of SCs and STs Organisation President Lolaksha on Wednesday strongly opposed the alleged categorisation of additional castes as Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in the Socio-Economic and Educational Survey (Caste Census) conducted by the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission, headed by H. Kantharaj.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Mangaluru

Talking to reporters, Lolaksha alleged that the Commission has conspired to systematically strip the constitutionally guaranteed rights of the SC/ST communities. Quoting media reports, he said that as per the survey, the Commission has identified 180 Scheduled Castes and 105 Scheduled Tribes in the state. Referring to Article 341(1) of the Constitution, he said that only the President of India, after consulting the respective state's Governor, has the authority to notify a caste as a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe through a Gazette notification and added that the Backward Classes Commission has no power to include any caste