Tamil Nadu Suspends Tahsildar Over Order to Collect Communist Party Members' Details
The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday suspended M. Ayyasamy, the tahsildar of Guziliamparai in Dindigul district, for ordering Village Assistants and Revenue Inspectors to collect the details of members and leaders of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)).
Officials said Mr. Ayyasamy has been directed to appear before the Commissioner of Revenue Administration in Chennai for a further inquiry into the matter.
The order, issued on August 18, directed officials to submit the details by evening. It warned that "action will be taken against Village Assistants" if they failed to comply. The suspension came within hours of the order being circulated on social media.
Reacting to the suspension, CPI(M) State secretary P. Shanmugam said the reasons for the order were unclear. "We do not know why he issued the orders. But I was told that he has been suspended, and the reasons behind his order will be known only after the inquiry," he said.
CPI(M) MP Sachithanandam, in a social media post, said such an order had not been issued even during the British era when political parties were banned and the Criminal Tribes Act was in force. The Criminal Tribes Act, enacted in 1871, labelled certain communities as "criminal" by birth and imposed severe restrictions on them. It was repealed after India gained independence.
The MP's comment points to the sensitivity of collecting personal details of political activists. The act of gathering such data, especially without any stated administrative reason, has raised concerns among civil liberties groups and opposition parties.
The tahsildar is a crucial revenue officer at the sub-district level, responsible for land records, revenue collection, and supervising village administration. The state government's decision to suspend Mr. Ayyasamy suggests it considers the order a serious violation of conduct.
In routine administration, revenue officials do collect data for various purposes such as updating land records, identifying beneficiaries of welfare schemes, or maintaining electoral rolls. However, an order specifically seeking the names and details of members of political parties is not a standard procedure, and this is why it has drawn attention.
However, the government has not yet made an official statement explaining the circumstances that led to the order or the suspension. The inquiry will look into whether the tahsildar acted on his own or under instructions from higher authorities.
The CPI and CPI(M) are part of the opposition alliance in Tamil Nadu. Leaders of both parties have demanded a thorough investigation and appropriate action. They have also sought an assurance that such data, if already collected, will not be misused.
The incident has also drawn attention to the broader issue of privacy rights in India. While the Right to Privacy has been upheld as a fundamental right, instances like this highlight the need for accountability and transparency in administrative actions.
As the inquiry unfolds, the administration's response will be watched closely for its handling of a matter that touches upon political freedoms and individual rights. The suspension, though swift, does not prejudge the outcome of the inquiry.
