KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday sought a written response by issuing a show cause notice in a writ petition filed calling for the provision of reservation quota for the Nishad caste.
A single bench of Justice Til Prasad Shrestha asked to submit the written response with valid reasons, causes and available evidence within 15 days of notice through the Office of the Attorney General.
Khajanti Mahato Naniya, on behalf of the Nepal Nishad Ekata Samaj, had lodged the petition at the SC on January 2 by naming the Federal Parliament, Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, and other bodies.
The SC stated that the written response was demanded since the issue in the petition should be addressed through parliament based on its nature.
The Nishad community includes Nuniya, Bin, Malah, Kewat, Kewarat, Turaha, Amat, Kol/Kaul, Khara, Khulwat, Khulwat/Khunot, Gangai, Godh, Godhi, Chaya/Chayav/Chai, Chauhan, Tiyar, Dhimar/Dhiwar, Bahardar, Beldar, Bot, Rajbhar, Sorhiya/Soraiya, Banpar, Gaudh, Bote and Modiyar/Moriyari.
The petitioner demanded that the reservation quota be ensured for the members of the Nishad community in civil service, semi-state-owned agencies, Nepali Army, Nepal Police and other state bodies.
Mostly residing in the districts of Tarai/Madhes, the primary means of living of this community are fishing, boating and farming.
The Nisadh community is also equally vulnerable to flooding and landslides, as the members of this community’s settlements are mostly on the riverbanks.
As per the report shared by the Madheshi Commission, the population of the Nishad community is more than 814,000.
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