Raj Govt competent to declare Gujjars nomads: Centre

“We have no role to play. Article 16 of the Constitution enables the states to make provisions for reservation to nomadic or de-notified tribes other than the Schedules Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBCs, if the situation demands,” he told PTI here.

Kyndiah’s ministry was keenly involved with Law and Home Ministries to formulate a reply to Raje’s May 26 letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who had directed Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to look into the matter.

Citing the example of Maharashtra Government which had already implemented four per cent quota for the nomadic or de-notified tribes, Kyndiah said no Constitutional amendment for this purpose was necessary or feasible as any such move would, inter alia, upset the delicate Constitutional balance.

He said if the Vasundhara Raje Government really wants to grant ST status to any community, it has to send a proposal incorporating all required criteria and with a comment justifying the move.