Key Points
In a surprising move, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) chairman and a social rights activist Harsh Chouhan resigned with eight months left for his term to end..
This has left the tribal rights body headless and functioning with a lone member.. Chouhan, who hails from Madhya Pradesh, resigned on June 26 and his resignation was accepted by President of India last week..
Chouhan had written to environment ministry red-flagging the new Forest Conservation Rules 2022 and said they violated the Forest Rights Act, 2006, by giving primacy to project clearance..
In January, as the environment ministry dismissed the concerns raised by Chouhan, he had said that the commission's position on the new rules being violative of the Forest Rights Act will remain the same...
As per the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Members (Conditions of Service and Tenure) Rules 2004, NCST should have a chairperson, vice-chairperson and members (the number of members has not been capped but there should be a woman member)..
