Collector confirms Araku MP’s ST status

Basing his decision on the opinion of the majority of members of the district-level enquiry committee, the district collector, Mr G. Ramanarayana Reddy, declared that the Lok Sabha member of Araku Parliamentary constituency, Mr Y. Kishorechandra Suryanarayana Deo, belongs to the “Kondadora” Scheduled Tribe community.

It may be mentioned here that the advisor of ST employees’ association, Mr Regu Maheswara Rao, had filed a petition in the High Court alleging that the Araku MP, Mr Deo, the Kurupam MLA, Mr V.T. Janardhana Thatraj, and the Parvathipuram civic chief, Ms Nrusimhapriya Thatraj, did not belong to the Scheduled Tribes community but were enjoying high positions earmarked for STs. He said that many real tribals were thus losing political as well as government opportunities.

The High Court had entrusted the enquiry to the district administration.

A district-level inquiry committee had been formed with the district revenue officer, Mr Prabhakara Rao, deputy directors of social welfare and tribal welfare departments, Mr Ramana Murty and Mr Mohan Nayak, and the district BC welfare officer, Mr Kumar Varma, as members and former JC, Mr P. Lakshmi Nrusimham, as chairman.

Mr Deo had submitted all available records to the committee claiming that he belonged to an ST community. After inquiry, Mr Prabhakara Rao, Mr Ramana Murty and Mr Kumar Varma expressed the opinion that Mr Deo belonged to an ST community, while Mr Mohan Nayak and the chairman, Mr Lakshmi Nrusimham, differed.

Reacting to the collector’s declaration, the adviser of ST employees’ association, Mr Maheswara Rao, questioned how Mr Deo could be considered ST when there were court judgments stating that Chinamerangi and Salur zamindars were not considered to be STs.

Mr Maheswara Rao alleged that the Collector had declared his final opinion only by succumbing to political pressures adding that he would continue his legal battle in the High Court and Apex Court.