SC asks Rajasthan to ensure 'well being' of tribals of village

New Delhi, Jun 3: The Supreme Court today came to the rescue of some tribal families, whose dwellings in a village in Rajasthan's Kota district have allegedly been demolished by some mine owners, by asking the Director General of Police and the Chief Secretary of Rajashtan to ensure their "well being".

A vacation bench comprising Justices P C Ghose and Amitava Roy also directed the DGP and the Chief Secretary to conduct an inquiry into the alleged incident and file their respective reports within four weeks.

"The Director General of Police and the Chief Secretary are required to ensure the well being of villagers," the bench said when a counsel, appearing for a tribal woman, sought a direction to authorities to ensure that no more dwellings are demolished.

The court was hearing a plea filed by Rekha, a tribal who hails from Julmi village of Kherahad in Kota district. She alleged that some mine owners treat the tribal villagers as their bonded labourers and have demolished about 42, out of 60 houses, in the village without even paying them in a bid to usurp their land.

The plea also claimed that some unidentified persons have abducted Raniya, husband of petitioner Rekha, on December 4, last year.

Besides seeking a direction for state police and others to produce Raniya, the plea has also sought an order for registration of an FIR under the SC/ST Act and other relevant provisions against the mine owners for allegedly demolishing the houses of the tribals.

It has also sought an "order directing the respondents to re-construct demolished dwellings and the community temples of the petitioners and to compensate then with sufficient damage for the cutting and destruction of trees and also for their mental harassment". Not only the houses, the community temples have also been damaged by the mine owners, the plea said, adding that several trees have also been felled.

PTI