Chennai:
More
than 5,000 acres of Panchami lands (Depressed Classed Assigned lands)
have been occupied by other communities in eight districts of Tamil Nadu
and action has been initiated to get them back, according to
Vice-Chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Castes L Murugan.
Murugan,
who is conducting a hearing of cases pertaining to atrocities against
Scheduled Castes at State Guest House, told Express that notice has been
served to people of other communities occupying 600 acres of Panchami land to
vacate it.
As
per law, the Panchami land, which came into being after Madras
government passed the Government Orders 1010 and 1010A dated September
30, 1892, could not be sold, or mortgaged to anyone.
Dalit
activists claim that despite the act, panchami lands meant for dalits
have vanished. And what is more there has also been a fall in the dalit
owners of such lands.
On
Dalits in the State being forced to approach the courts to register
even First Information Reports pertaining to cases linked to Scheduled
Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Murugan said
that this attitude of officials should be changed. “According to new
amendment to the act, if officer is neglecting his duty file FIRs under
the Prevention of Atrocities Act, action can be taken against the
official, he said.
Murugan
said that he is hearing eight case and one of them pertains to a murder
case in Puducherry where in the Director General of Police, Puducherry
is being summoned.
Murugan
said that he along with director of Adi Dravidar Welfare reviewed the
implementation of schemes for Scheduled Castes. He said that he will be
reviewing the schools and college hostels run by the Adi Dravidar
Welfare department.
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