New Delhi, May 31st, 2010

There is something to cheer about for the people living in the village 'Kuwan Ka Vas' which was changed into 'Chamaron Ka Vas' in Hingota Panchayat, District Dausa of Rajasthan. Pursuant to the directions of the Commission on the 5th May, 2010, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, in its communication on the 24th May, 2010 informed the Commission that it has no objection if the name of the village 'Chamaron Ka Vas' is changed back to 'Kuwan Ka Vas'.

The name of the village was changed in 1987 as 'Chamaron Ka Vas' by a Lekhpal of the area allegedly due to ill will, as alleged by the villagers in their complaint to the Commission in 2006.

The Home Ministry has requested the Government of Rajasthan to issue a notification changing the name of the village. On the basis of this communication, the Commission on the 26th May, 2010 recommended that the Chief Secretary, Government of Rajasthan hold an inquiry as to how the old name of the village 'Kuwan Ka Vas' was changed to 'Chamaron Ka Vas'; find out the errant Lekhpal, and submit the report along with the notification changing the name of the village within four weeks.

The struggle to get restored the respectability to the name of their village has not been an easy ride for Khem Chand and other residents of the concerned village since 1987. The then District Collector, Dausa in 2002 did forward their application to the State Government recommending a new name 'Govindpura' for the village, but nothing happened on the ground.

In 2006, they took up the matter again with the then District Collector, Dausa, but were not responded well by the officer concerned.

Following this, they approached the National Human Rights Commission with a complaint, and requested for its intervention in the matter. The Commission on 28thSeptember, 2006 issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Rajasthan calling for a report within eight weeks.

It took almost two years to the Government of Rajasthan to respond to the notice through its Deputy Secretary on 8th August, 2008 saying that no misbehaviour was found to have been committed by the Collector. It said that the state government agreed to change the name of village from 'Chamaron Ka Vas' to 'Kushalpura' with the consent of all the villagers.

The Commission sent a copy of the report to the complainants for their comments. When no comments were submitted, the Commission on the 17th December, 2008 ordered the closure of the case.

Thereafter, another complaint was received in the Commission from Khem Chand in the same year stating that nothing could materialize as the state government was informed by the Union Home Ministry that the name 'Kushalpura' was not acceptable to the Ministry of Railways as there was already a transit railway station 'Kushalpura Halt' which may create confusion. The Union Home Ministry, on the input of the Ministry of Railways, asked state government to suggest another name.

The Commission again took up the matter with the state government, and it was informed on the 9th September, 2009 that a list of alternate names was forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India for approval.

Having received no response from the Union Home Ministry and District Collector, Dausa, even after a lapse of five months, the Commission asked the Secretary (Home) and the District Collector, Dausa to submit the status of the case.

The District Magistrate, Dausa said that he had written to the state government of Rajasthan for changing the name, but no information was received.

The Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India informed on the 10th March, 2010 that the proposal of change in the name of the village 'Chamaron Ka Vas' to 'Kuwan Ka Vas' is under examination with the Ministry in consultation with other Ministries and Departments. As and when the/views of all concerned are received a final decision shall be taken on the proposal and conveyed to the State Government of Rajasthan.

The Commission in its proceedings on the 5th May, 2010 and observed that it "is distressed to note that in a democratic country like India, whose Constitution clearly prohibits any discrimination on the basis of castes, religion, languages etc, the name of the village 'Chamaron Ka Vas' is not only derogatory but, perhaps, also constitutes criminal offence under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989. Here is the case which is in direct conflict with the Constitutional mandate.

It is highly frustrating that a matter which was represented against in the year 2006 has dragged on, on account of the bureaucratic rigmarole. If enough sensitivity had been displayed, the name of the village could have been changed much earlier and the feelings of a particular community could have been assuaged.

It will be appropriate to ask Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs to get the matter expedited and the decision of the Ministry be communicated to the Commission as early as possible."

The Commission gave six weeks time for the response in the matter. However, the Home Ministry came out with its response much before the dead line and said that it has no objection if the name of the village is restored back to 'Kuwan Ka Vas'.

*****