UP govt order on SC list not proper: Centre

New Delhi: The Centre Tuesday said the BJP- led Uttar Pradesh government's move to include 17 communities belonging to OBCs in the Scheduled Castes (SC) list was not in accordance with the Constitution as only Parliament has the right to do so.

"This is not proper," Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot said in the Rajya Sabha after the matter was raised by BSP member Satish Chandra Misra during the Zero Hour.

The Uttar Pradesh government had on June 24 directed district magistrates and commissioners to issue caste certificates to 17 OBCs - Kashyap, Rajbhar, Dhivar, Bind, Kumhar, Kahar, Kewat, Nishad, Bhar, Mallah, Prajapati, Dhimar, Batham, Turha, Godia, Manjhi and Machua.

Gehlot said if the UP government wants to go ahead with its proposal it should follow procedure and send a proposal to the Centre.

"We would then consider it," he said.

Gehlot further said the order of the UP government was not in accordance with the Constitution.

He asked the UP government not to issue certificates based on the order else the matter may go to court. The minister, who is also the leader of the Rajya Sabha, said shifting of one category to another caste category is the right of Parliament. See P5