PIL In SC For Removal Of Banjaras, Lambadas From STs

Former Justice B Chandrakumar filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court on Friday urging the court to remove Banjaras, Lambadas and Sugalies from the Scheduled Tribes list.

In his petition, Chandrakumar mentioned that recognising Banjaras and Lambadas as STs as per the SC, ST Amendment Act of 1971 was against the Constitution. It was nothing but violating Article 342, he said.

He said that Banjaras, Lambadas and Sugalies had migrated to Telangana from elsewhere and were enjoying the reservations meant for STs here. He said that the Lambadas and Sugalies belonged to the Kshatriya businessmen community. The then government included the three communities, who were in the list of BCs till then, in the STs list without any inquiry, with the help of the 1976 Act.

Senior advocate M N Rao will argue the case on behalf of the petitioner.