NCSC should have judicial powers like EC: Buta Singh

Chennai, July 17 (UNI) The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) should be empowered with quasi-judicial powers like the Election Commission of India to make it a 'performing' body rather than a 'fact-finding' one, NCSC Chairman Buta Singh demanded today.

Speaking at a seminar on 'Human Rights for Dalits' here, Dr Singh said the jurisdiction of the Commission under the existing provisions of the 'SC, ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act' had more of a advisory nature. ''It should have comprehensive powers to act on complaints and even the Supreme Court should desist from revewing its weilding of judicial powers'' ''To enhance it (the Commission) into a watchdog of the society and a guardian of the cause of the under-privileged classes, it should be 'embellished' with powers to penalise the offenders of the 'rights and privileges' of the Dalits,'' he cautioned.

Dr Singh, a former Governor of Bihar, alleged that Beaurocracy and Judiciary had failed to execute and scrutinise the constitutionally guaranteed privilges of the SCs and added ''now the Parliament is the only ray of hope for the communities.'' ''The Parliament should take the initiatives to 'update' the representation of the SCs in its both Houses and in the state legislatures, in proportion to the Dalits' strength in population.

He said the government should extend reservation to the private sector also. ''The Dalits have equal rights of the land and when the corporates are given concessions to start and operate private firms, they should be accountable to provide reservation. They are enjoying the conccession of the law of the land. Hence, they should ''reciproccate by agreeing'' to reservation.

Speaking on the occasion Justice Motilal B Naik said the Dalits should not be satisfied with the 'privileges'; rather they should develop a unity among themselves and strive for 'excellence' Dalit Panthers of India General Secretary Thol Thirumavalavan and Puthiya Thamizhagam (PT) president K Krishnaswamy spoke on the need of a 'firm political palatform to grab the powers assigned to the Dalits'.

UNI