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http://in.news.yahoo.com/041008/149/2h6fv.html
[This article might be of interest to some, in view of the recent review of the Bassein book. -FN]
riday October 8, 11:38 AM
East Indians' financial status under scanner By Manoj Nair
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The East Indian community's demand to be recognised as a backward class could just be realised.
After a delay of more than a year, the state government has appointed a commission headed by a retired high court judge to study the demand.
Earlier, the state government said that it was difficult to find a retired HC judge to head the commission because judges found the monthly compensation of Rs 5,000 too low. The last commission headed by retired Justice S M Khatri last met in May 2003.
Hike in pay
The government has now increased the compensation to Rs 10,000. The judges will also get an extra allowance of Rs 500 per sitting. A new commission has been set up under Justice R M Bapat (retired) in Pune last month.
The commission's job
The commission will investigate the claims made by different communities including East Indians. Justice Bapat said that a group of East Indians met him last week. "I told them to submit applications and facts. We will have to do a lot of research before we can decide," he said.
The commission will conduct interviews with community members. It will investigate whether the community is financially and educationally backward to warrant an Other Backward Caste (OBC) tag.
Depending on its recommendations, the state cabinet will decide whether a community should be included in the list.
Why OBC status
The East Indian community, one of the original inhabitants of Mumbai, has claimed an OBC status that would give it privileges like reservation in government jobs and seats in institutions of higher education.
"We were worried that the delay in the setting up of the commission would affect our claim," said Kalina resident Oneil Anthony Kinny.
Why the delay
B J Sasane, director, department of social justice said, "Finding a retired judge to head the commission was one of the reasons why its appointment was delayed." "Retired judges says they get much more than the Rs 5,000 offered for practising in the courts," said an official.
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