Implications of Supreme Court judgment on Salwa Judum on anti-Maoist operations

New Delhi, July 6 (ANI): A day after the Supreme Court asked the Chhattisgarh Government and the Centre to desist from appointing tribals as Special Police Officers (SPOs) in its Salwa Judum counter-insurgency operation against the Maoists, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram today said the government will hold consultations with various chief ministers over the issue.

An apex court bench comprising Justices B Sudershan Reddy and S S Nijjar had on Tuesday said the appointment of tribal youths, as SPOs is "unconstitutional".

The Supreme Court said the eligibility criteria, which includes the educational qualification and training of the tribals to combat Maoists goes against the provisions of statues and the Constitution.

The apex court further said that creation of Koya Commandos and Salwa Judum was in violation of the Constitution.

The Special Police Officers (SPOs) have reportedly been given the name of Koya Commandos after that of a tribe in Chhattisgarh"s Dantewada region. (ANI)