SC/ST panel member moves HC

Chowdhary has now gone to court with his grievance that ‘‘the chairman is interfering’’ with his work. His petition has already been admitted by the Delhi High Court and notice has been issued to Sastri.

While Chowdhary and Sastri’s strained relations have created a sort of impasse in the Commission, sources say the fight is likely to throw up a lot of muck about the recent goings-on there. For past six months, no meeting of the Commission has been held which is against the rulebook that says a meeting once in two months is a must.

The tension came out in the open in June when Sastri issued an order withdrawing Chowdhary’s work and powers (like tours etc.). ‘‘I had to issue the orders when I received complaints against Chowdhary from governments of Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand about his inappropriate conduct,’’ Sastri told The Indian Express.

Chowdhary, a former journalist, however says he was feeling ‘‘persecuted and victimised and so went to court’’. ‘‘If a person who’s job is to render justice feels so one can imagine the state of affairs inside the Commission,’’ he said.