भाजपा के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष जगत प्रकाश नडडा के सोलन आगमन एक एक दिन पहले ही जिला सिरमौर के ट्रांसगिरी हाटी समुदाय को अनुसूचित जनजाति में लाने के कानून पर प्रदेश हाईकोर्ट ने स्टे लगा दिया हैं। इस बावत प्रदेश की सुक्खू सरकार और देश की मोदी सरकार दोनों की ओर से ही जारी अधिसूचनाओं पर प्रदेश हाईकोर्ट ने रोक लगा दी हैं।
प्रदेश हाईकोर्ट के मुख्य न्यायाधीश न्यायमूर्ति एमएस रामचंद्र राव और ज्योत्स्ना रेवाल दुआ की खंडपीठ ने कहा कि यह एकतरफा व घोर असंवैधानिक लग रहा हैं। अगर अंतरिम राहत नहीं दी गई तो ऐसा नुकसान हो जाएगा जिसकी भरपाई नहीं की जा सकेगी।
ऐसे में कंस्टीटयूशन(शेडयूल ट्राइब )आर्डर(सेकंड एमेंडमेंट)एक्ट 2003 और हिमाचल प्रदेश के जनजातीय विभाग की चिटठी पर रोक लगाई जाती हैं। यह रोक अगली सुनवाई 18 मार्च तक लगाई गई हैं।
खंडपीठ ने कहा कि अगर इस अंतरम आदेश को नहीं दिया जाता है तो हजारों लोगों को एसटी प्रमाणापत्र जारी हो जाएंगी व उन्हें वापस लेना मुश्किल हो जाएगा।इस मामले में जब तक तमाम दलीलें नहीं सुन ली जाती तक फैसला देना संभव नहीं हैं। ऐसे में अदालत 25 फरवरी तक अवकाश की वजह से बंद रहेगी व तब तक ये तमाम याचिकाएं इंन्फ्रक्चुअस हो जाएंगी।
हाटी समुदाय को अनुसूचित जनजाति के दर्जा देने को लेकर केंद्र व प्रदेश की भाजपा सरकार ने पूरा जोर लगाया था। विधानसभा चुनावों से पहले राजनीतिक सभाओं गृहमंत्री अमित शाह हाटी मामले को राजनीतिक मुददा बना गए थे। तब भाजपा को उम्मीद थी कि इससे भाजपा को जिला सिरमौर ही नहीं बल्कि जिला शिमला और सोलन में भी राजनीतिक फायदा होगा और भाजपा कई यीटें जीत जाएंगी। लेकिन ऐसा नहीं हुआ। सिरमौर में पांच में से दो ही सीटें भाजपा जीत सकी। अनुसूचित जाति और अन्य पिछड़ा वर्ग भाजपा के खिलाफ हो गया।
अब लोकसभा चुनावों से पहले भाजपा के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष जगत प्रकाश नडडा सोलन के दौरे पर आ रहे हैं। जाहिर है कि वह हाटी पर भी अपनी बात रखेंगे। लेकिन उनके लिए ये स्टे एक सदमें से कम नहीं हैं। इस मामले को लेकर भाजपा और मोदी सरकार बेहद नरम रही हैं। भाजपा बहुसंख्यकों को लामबंद करने की राजनीति कर रही हैं। इस मामले में भी वह इसी सोच के साथ आगे बढ़ी थी लेकिन हिमाचल में साक्षरता दर ही इतनी ज्यादा है कि जनता किसी की भी मंशा को भांप लेती हैं।
हाईकोर्ट के आदेश के कुछ अंश
It thus appears that the State Government is also having serious doubts as to how it will deal with the implementation of the said notification. But after we have reserved orders in these matters on the interim stay applications, News Paper reports dt.2.1.2024 indicated that the State Government had issued a notification on 1.1.2024 for implementation of the impugned law.
On asking of the Court, the Advocate General supplied copy of the same. It is a letter Ref.TBD(F)4-1/2023 dt.1.1.2024 addressed by the Principal Secretary, Tribal Development department of the State of Himachal Pradesh to (a) all the Administrative Secretaries to the Govt. of Himachal Pradesh (b) The Divisional Commissioners (Shimla, Kangra and Mandi) and (c) All the Deputy Commissioners in Himachal Pradesh.
It refers to the impugned law and to the list of STs mentioned in High Court of H.P. the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 as also the inclusion of the Hattee community of Trans giri area of Sirmour District in the list of STs as per the impugned law. It then refers to a communication dt.30.12.2023 received from the Ministry of Tribal affairs, Govt. of India allegedly clarifying that “Hattee” refers to permanent residents of the Trans Giri area of Sirmour District and that it excludes those communities which have been notified as Scheduled Castes in the Trans Giri area of Sirmour District of Himachal Pradesh. It directs that above officials to take necessary action accordingly.
केंद्र सरकार के कदम पर जताई हैरानी
We are baffled as to how the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Union of India could have given such advice without Parliament making the said exclusion under clause (2) of Art.341 of the Constitution of India in the list of SCs mentioned in the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order,1950. Thus all the above facts and circumstances show prima facie that there is manifest arbitrariness in including the SCs, OBC and dominant castes like Rajputs and Brahmins of Trans Gir region of Sirmour District in the list of STs notified by the Constitution ( Scheduled Tribes) Order,1950 and prima facie it appears that parliament has acted capriciously, irrationally and/or without adequate determining principle.
High Court of H.P. Balance of convenience Counsel for the petitioners contend that the SC community of the region consisting of seven castes which include (i) Badhoi, (ii) Lohar, (iii) Dhaki/Toori/Tayal, (iv) Koli, (v) Chanal (vi) Dum and (vii) Chamar had historically benefited from reservations and they would suffer a significant loss, and would lose 22% exclusive reservation in employment and education and that they would also lose 15% of the national reservation opportunities. in employment and education Apart from this it is contended that the SC community has a 15% reservation under Art.243D of the Constitution in the Panchayat Raj system and this decision would effectively remove the reservations for SCs in Ward member, Pradhan, Block Development Council member and Chairperson position.
It is also contended that of the existing four constituencies of the Trans-Giri region, two were reserved for the Scheduled Caste community on the basis of existence of the SC Community population in Trans Giri, and under Art.332 of the Constitution, these two reserved seats in the Trans Giri region’s Legislative assembly (MLA) which were earmarked for the SC community would now be eliminated. High Court of H.P. These concerns of the SC community as highlighted by the Senior Counsel for the petitioner in CWP.No.8103/2023, cannot be ignored .
The Senior Counsel for the petitioner in CWP.No.9528/2023 highlighted that the Hattees belong to the advanced class and do not fulfil the traits/characteristics of Scheduled Tribes and as such their addition as one of the Scheduled Tribes, will affect benefits of reservation extended to members of the petitioner association being Scheduled Tribes by virtue of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Orders ( Amendment) Act,1956. He too highlighted that granting Scheduled Tribe status to dominant castes denies tribal population of the State the constitutional right of equal participation in the society, results in dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,1989 and that it is unfair to expect the Scheduled Tribe communities, who had been practising totally different lifestyle from the forward castes, to compete with the latter. According to him, such reservation granted to dominant upper castes is against the constitutional principle of equality. He also submitted that no quantifiable data regarding backwardness of Hattee community has been provided by the Government and the ethnographic report is silent on the aspect. High Court of H.P. The Scheduled Tribe community’s concerns as highlighted by the petitioner in CWP.No.9528/2023 also appear to be genuine and cannot be ignored.
Thus we are satisfied that balance of convenience exists in favor of granting interim relief in CWP.No.s 8301/2023 and CWP.No.9528/2023.
Irreparable injury
We are also of the view that if interim orders are not granted, tens of thousands of ST certificates would be granted, reversal of which would be difficult. A fait accompli would happen because final hearing of the Writ Petitions cannot be done without pleadings being complete, and since this Court is closed for the winter break till 25.2.2024, there is a possibility of these CWPs being practically rendered infructuous.
CONCLUSION
For the aforesaid reasons, prima facie there appears to be manifest arbitrariness and glaring unconstitutionality in the impugned law. There exists balance of convenience in favour of petitioners in CWP.NO.8103/2023 and CWP.No.9528/2023, and irreparable injury is likely to be caused if the interim relief is not granted, CMP.No15611/2023 in CWP.NO.8103/2023 and CMP.NO17653 /2023 in CWP.No.9528/2023 are allowed and the implementation of the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) High Court of H.P. Orders ( Second Amendment) Act,2023 as well as the Letter TBD(F) 4-1 /2023 dt.1.1.2024 of the Tribal Development ,Department of the Govt. of Himachal Pradesh are stayed till 18.03.2024. Consequently interim applications in all other CWPs mentioned in this order are dismissed. We hasten to add that the observations/findings recorded are only prima facie and tentative and they shall not have any bearing at the final hearing of these matters. List on 18.03.2024 for filing of replies by the respondents. January 04, 2023.
(JUSTICE M.S RAMACHANDRA RAO) CHIEF JUSTICE
(JYOTSNA REWAL DUA) JUDGE
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