ST Commission asks DGP to arrest, bring Chanda collector to hearing in Maharashtra

CHANDRAPUR: District collector Vinay Gowda GC incurred the wrath of National Commission for Scheduled Tribe (NCST) by not appearing in person after being summoned twice, and sending the deputy collector instead. The NSCT has now issued orders to the director general of police, Maharashtra, Rajnish Seth to arrest Gowda and bring him before the commission on March 2.
Vinod Khobragade, a government patwari, had filed a complaint with NSCT, alleging that the government allocated 63.62 hectare land belonging to tribals from Kusambi village in Jiwti taluka, along with other government land, for limestone mining over 40 years back.
He alleged that the land was allocated to Manikghar Cement (now Ultratech Cement) without consent of the tribals or payment of any compensation to them.
Khobragade said the commission had sent a notice to then collector Ajay Gulhane on September 29, 2022, asking him to submit a report in this regard within 15 days. However, he failed to submit the report to the commission, Khobragade alleged. The commission again sent a notice on January 2, asking incumbent collector Vinay Gowda to submit a report in the matter within 15 days. Khobragade alleged Gowda too overlooked the matter and did not submit the report.
Taking cognizance of the alleged defiance, NCST scheduled a hearing on the matter and sent summons to Gowda to appear in person for the hearing.
Collector Gowda however skipped the hearing scheduled on February 16, and sent a deputy collector (encroachment) in his stead. Irked by this gesture to overlook the summons to attend in person, and skip the hearing, the commission exercising its civil court powers under clause (8) of Article 338A and issued orders on February 21 to director general of police Rajnish Seth to arrest Gowda and bring him in person before the NCST.
The next hearingis scheduled on March 2.
Explaining his stand in writing, collector Gowda claimed that the state government had allocated the lease of the land in contention to the cement company for limestone mining on April 30, 1979.
He admitted receiving summons to attend the hearing before NCST regarding the complaint. However, due to other engagements he was unable to attend the hearing in person and the same was conveyed to the commission vide letter dated February 13.
In place of collector, deputy collector (encroachment) was authorised to attend the hearing and the commission was informed accordingly, Gowda said. The deputy collector attended the hearing before the commission.
Collector Gowda also clarified that detailed reports on Kusambi tribal land issue sought by the NCST had been twice sent to the commission on October 12, 2022, and January 30, 2023. He said he will stand before the NCST to explain the facts in the dispute.