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A complaint has been lodged against Chitekala Salomi, a member of the District SC/ST Vigilance & Monitoring Committee in Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh, alleging misuse of her official position. The complaint, submitted by the SC ST Rights Forum to the District Collector of Nandyal, seeks disciplinary action against Salomi and calls for an inquiry into her caste status by the District Level Scrutiny Committee (DLSC).
The allegations stem from a letter Salomi reportedly sent on 16 July 2024 to the Mandal Parishad Development Officer (MPDO) of Bandi Atmakur Mandal, Nandyal District. In the letter, Salomi allegedly warned that those obstructing the construction of a church on agricultural land would face criminal charges under the SC ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The SC ST Rights Forum claims that this intervention was out of Salomi’s purview and constitutes a misuse of her position to favor a specific group.
The construction in question involves a church initiated by the Hosanna Ministries Society on agricultural land at Survey No. 433-1, without the necessary permissions. The complaint references the Andhra Pradesh Agricultural Land (Conversion for Non-Agricultural Purposes) Act, 2006, and the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Department’s G.O M.S No. 376 (2012), which mandates District Collector approval for religious constructions. Local residents had raised concerns with the Gram Panchayat, opposing the alleged illegal construction.
Additionally, the complaint highlights potential issues regarding Salomi’s caste status. It suggests that she may be a practicing Christian while holding an SC caste certificate, which could violate the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order of 1950, and a 2016 Supreme Court judgment. According to the order, a person who professes a religion different from Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism cannot claim Scheduled Caste status.
The SC ST Rights Forum has called for a thorough investigation into these allegations and appropriate disciplinary action against Salomi if the claims are substantiated.
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