The Madras High has asked the government to carry out an examination based on the report filed by the advocate commissioners and within three months prepare a plan to develop the tribal community in Villupuram and Salem districts.
The First Bench comprising Chief Justice S.K. Kaul and T.S. Sivagnanam were hearing a PIL from advocate K.R. Tamizh Mani who wanted the government to start a special scheme for tribal development in the hill areas of Villupuram and Salem.
Earlier, the court had appointed advocates T. Mohan, V. Suresh and Anirudh Krishnan to file a report on the condition of the tribals in the two areas. On Monday they filed their report. “It is interesting to note from the epilogue of the report that classifies the tribals of their special skills as soundless wood cutters, especially in cutting red sanders,” observed the Bench.
Valuable suggestion
Pointing that that 12 out of 20 people, who were recently shot in Andhra Pradesh for their alleged involvement in red sander smuggling, belonged to the two areas, the Bench stated that a suggestion was made in the report to utilise their special skills in an efficient manner.
‘Form panel’
The Bench directed the Chief Secretary to constitute a high-level multi-departmental committee to answer some of the questions in the report.
The Chief Secretary may also explore the possibility of including somebody from the local community and make the advocate commissioners as part of the committee, the Bench said.
