Member of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, P.M. Kamalamma, expressed concern at the high absenteeism of District Collectors at hearings, and warned them of summons if they failed to show up during her next visit.
The Commission conducted hearings in six districts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, but none had attendance of the District Collectors.
Instead, they were represented by lower level officials, Ms. Kamalamma noted at a media conference she called on Monday. While not revealing names of the districts, she said the truancy was more on A.P.’s behalf. “We are here to protect the rights of Scheduled Castes, for which the Collector is responsible at the district level. Sending remarks through someone else is not enough. Because topmost officers are not attending the hearings, the disposal is becoming tardy,” Ms. Kamalamma said.