Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Non-tribals’ strike hits life in parts of Jharkhand

Non-tribals’ strike hits life in parts of Jharkhand

RANCHI, April 13: The one-day strike called by non-tribals to protest the Jharkhand government’s move to hold panchayat polls by reserving the post of village council heads for tribal people affected normal life in some parts of the State on Tuesday.
Schools and shops were closed in Ranchi, roads were deserted and attendance in government offices was thin. Police used lathis to disperse strike supporters who forcefully tried to close shops. The strike also affected life in Jamshedpur, Hazaribagh and Giridih towns.
In January, the Supreme Court directed the State Government to hold panchayat elections at the earliest in accordance withthe Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) 1996, under which the posts of mukhiyas and sarpanch are reserved for tribals in scheduled areas as defined by the constitution.

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