New Delhi: Chhattisgarh government on Tuesday admitted in the Supreme Court that the prevailing situation of tribals being caught in a crossfire between Maoists, the police and anti-Maoist vigilante group Salwa Judum was a testimony to governance failure.
"All these are the testimony of failure of governance in the state. It is honestly accepted," senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the state government, submitted before a Bench comprising Justices B Sudershan Reddy and S S Nijjar.
The statement by Salve was made in the backdrop of 40,000 tribals leaving their home for relief camps and schools in Naxal-affected districts occupied by security forces.
However, the senior advocate defended the appointment of a high-powered committee headed by Chief Minister Raman Singh to monitor relief and rehabilitation work in Maoist-hit areas saying it cannot be led by an "outsider".
"There is nothing wrong in Relief and Rehabilitation committee being headed by the Chief Minister. It is not the power but the duty of the CM and the committee cannot be headed by an outsider," Salve said countering the rights activists who have opposed the idea of the Chief Minister heading a committee.
He submitted there was no need for the appointment of high-powered committee to look after the relief and rehabilitation work and the state government is competent enough to look after its people.
However, the apex court stuck to its earlier demand and asked Chhattisgarh government to vacate all school buildings under the occupation of security forces in Naxal-hit areas of the state within four months.
The bench also sought a comprehensive report from the state government on its plan to disband the relief camp where the tribals are given temporary shelter.
"Its a question of freedom. Bread and freedom both are important and people must go back to their homes," the bench said.
The court was hearing the PIL filed by sociologist Nandini Sundar, historian Ramchandra Guha, former bureaucrat E A S Sarma and others seeking a direction to the state government to refrain from allegedly supporting Salwa Judum.
Chhattisgarh government had given details about the steps taken by it on the FIRs registered on the basis of the report of NHRC pointing to human rights violations by the members of Salwa Judum.
Opposing the petition, the state government submitted Salwa Judum is history and it has not been supporting the movement any more.
"There is no question of supporting any group which is resorting to violent activity. We are not supporting violent activities or any other movement which preaches violence," the state government said.
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