The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) on Monday issued an arrest warrant against the Madhya Pradesh chief secretary Avani Vaish in connection with a state government order of 2006 which permits filling of posts reserved for the Scheduled Caste category by those belonging to the general category.
Member of NCSC, Mr Mahendra Baudh, told this newspaper that his commission has issued an arrest warrant against the state chief secretary. On being asked whether or not the commission has the power to issue an arrest warrant, he said that the NCSC has issued the arrest warrant as it has the powers of a civil court under Clause (8) of Article 338A of the Constitution and can summon and enforce attendance of any person.
When contacted, sources in the state government said that that the commission has powers to issue summons or to use other coercive processes.
Mr Baudh said that NCSC was in the process of hearing a petition against the 2006 order of the state government which allows the filling up of reserved posts by those from the general category.
There have been more than a dozen hearings in this case and the MP government secretary public works department and secretary water resources have deposed before the commission. Since their replies were not satisfactory, notices were served on the state chief secretary to appear before the commission on May 11, 17 and 24.