SC rejects plea for separate enumeration of denotified, nomadic & semi-nomadic tribes

Supreme Court on Tuesday frowned upon a PIL seeking distinct enumeration of denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes (DNTs), some of which have been given Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe status, during the forthcoming census exercise.

A bench of CJI Suryakant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi told Siddharth Dave, counsel for the petitioner, that the motive behind the PIL was to secure SC or ST status. "These are very calculated moves; there's nothing spontaneous or sudden about them. These are very deep-rooted moves to divide India, maybe an attempt instigated from outside the country. An inquiry can reveal the truth," the bench said.

Arguing for enumeration of the tribes which were stigmatised under the repealed Criminal Tribes Act, 1871, senior advocate Siddharth Dave told the bench that despite repeated recommendations since 2000 by NHRC and other commissions, govt had not taken steps for their enumeration.

The bench, however, said, "When India is making efforts for creation of a class-less society, there are petitions every day in the court seeking sub-categorisation or sub-classification of people for creation of a separate identity." tnn




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