Chopra Committee unlikely to submit report by set deadline

Jaipur, Aug 22 (UNI) Justice Jasraj Chopra Committee, constituted to examine the demand of inclusion of the Gujjar community into the Scheduled Tribe list, is unlikely to submit its report within the given deadline even as Gujjar Reservation Action Committee (GRAC) is contemplating peaceful agitation in protest against delay in the report.

Talking to reporters here today, committee Chairman Justice Chopra said his committee was doing its best to expedite the work and complete its task within its given deadline of September 12.

However, much of the required process was yet to be taken up and it would obviously take time.

The committee was holding day-to-day hearing on the representations submitted before it by all concerned parties, he said.

The committee had received as many as 115 applications for personal hearings. Of these the committee had so far heard pleadings from 27 applicants.

The personal hearing would remain suspended for a week from tomorrow as the committee had allowed concerned parties to have personal perusal of documents submitted before it, between August 23 and 30, the chairman said, adding that the committee would review the progress of its work on or after August 30.

Meanwhile, the GRAC which has been spearheading agitation for ST status to Gujjars, said it wanted the chopra committee to accomplice its task within three months.

GRAC spokesman Roop Singh told UNI today that the action committee had already convened its meeting in Dholpur on September 13, a day after the expiry of the present deadline of the Chopra committee.

He said if the chopra committee succeeded in submitting its report by that time, the GRAC would move a vote of thanks at its meeting on September 13 otherwise would announce the next phase of peaceful agitation against the delay.

The three member Chopra committee was constituted on June 12 last to examine the demand of the Gujjar community for which Col Kirodi Singh Bainsla led GRAC had spearheaded statewide agitation.

The agitation was marred by widespread violence and police firings which left 25 persons, including two policemen, dead and a large number of agitators injured.

UNI