National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (STs)-

• It is a constitutional body came into existence in 2004 through 89^th constitutional amendment act 2003 and inserted Article 338A

• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is the nodal Ministry for NCST.

Composition and Term-

Composition 

• The Commission consists of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and three other members.

• The Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other Members of the Commission are appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal

Term-

• 3 years.

• The conditions of service and tenure of office of the NCST are notified by the Ministry.

Duties and Powers of the Commission-

It shall be the duty of the Commission-

(a) to investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Tribes under this Constitution or under any other law for the time being in force or under any order of the Government and to evaluate the working of such safeguards;

(b) To inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the Scheduled Tribes;

(c) To participate and advise on the planning process of socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribes and to evaluate the progress of their development under the Union and any State;

(d) To present to the President, annually and at such other times as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards;

(e) To make in such reports recommendations as to the measures that should be taken by the Union or any State for the effective implementation of those safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare and socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribes; and

(f) To discharge such other functions in relation to the protection, welfare and development and advancement of the Scheduled Tribes as the President may, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament, by rule specify;

Power of Civil court-

Commission has a power of civil court and these powers are as follows-

(a) Summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person from any part of India and examining him on oath;

(b) Requiring the discovery and production of any document;

(c) Receiving evidence on affidavits;

(d) Requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office;

(e) Issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses and documents;

(f) Any other matter which the President may, by rule, determine;

Reports and Recommendations of the Commission-

Commission submits report to President annually and constitution says that-

• The President shall cause all such reports to be laid before each House of Parliament along with a memorandum explaining the action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendations relating to the Union and the reasons for the non-acceptance, if any, of any of such recommendations.

Where any such report, or any part thereof, relates to any matter with which any State Government is concerned-

• A copy of such report shall be forwarded to the Governor of the State who shall cause it to be laid before the Legislature of the State along with a memorandum explaining the action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendations relating to the State and the reasons for the non-acceptance, if any, of any of such recommendations.