Gujarat: Scheduled Caste panel writes to top cop amid row over collector’s comments

In his complaint, Parmar has referred to a purported video which was shot during a SWAGAT programme in the Mahisagar district on October 23.

Parmar alleged that in the purported video, the Mahisagar Collector ‘insulted’ a man from the Scheduled Caste community, who was making a representation, while also claiming that 90% of the cases registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, commonly known as Atrocities Act, are being lodged for ‘blackmailing’.

In his complaint, Parmar has demanded to dismiss the Mahisagar Collector from service for violation of All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, and to register a criminal case against her for her alleged comments in the purported video under the Atrocities Act.

Parmar said that acting on his complaint, the Commission on November 25 issued a notice to the Gujarat Director General of Police while seeking an action taken report from him.

The notice from the Gujarat state office of the Commission reads, “…a Complaint/information has been received by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes from…Sanjay Kumar Atmaram Parmar…as enclosed and the Commission has decided to investigate/inquire into the matter in pursuance of the powers conferred upon it under Article 338 of the Constitution of India.”

With this, the Commission has sought an action taken report within 15 days of receipt of the notice.

The purported video earlier came under attack by Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani in October with a demand to register an FIR against her. Since then, Mevani has been demanding action against the Mahisagar Collector for her alleged ‘anti-Dalit’ and ‘anti-Adivasi’ comments while he has been writing to various authorities.
The Mahisagar Collector has already termed the allegations against her as baseless and an attempt to get political mileage.