Mumbai's top cop summoned by SC/ST Commmission

Indore, July 19 (UNI) The National SC/ST Commission has issued summons to Mumbai Police Commissioner in connection with an objectionable remark made against dalits during The Great Indian Laughter Challenge show beamed by a private TV channel.

''The commission had sent a directive to the bureaucrat for initiating action against Pakistani artistes Irfan Malik and Ali Hussain,'' commission Member Phoolchand Verma told UNI here today.

However, no action was taken and the commission invoked its quasi-judicial powers under Article 338 of the Constitution. The Commissioner would have to appear at the commission's New Delhi head office on August 2.

Local dalits had complained to Mr Verma that the derogatory comment was made during an exchange between the artistes in the programme's megafinal show.

On June 23, the commission dispatched a notice to the commissioner and asked him to register an FIR under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and dispatch all the facts to the commission.

The August 2 hearing would be conducted by commission Chairman Surajbhan and Mr Verma.

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