Our Authority

POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION

Functions of the Commission.
The Commission shall perform the following functions, namely:
a to identify the forward communities in the State of Kerala and to prepare a list thereof and submit it to the Government;
b to study and analyse the issues of those who are economically backward in the forward communities and recommend welfare measures;
c to examine the requests of any community to be included as forward community, to hear complaints thereon and to give advices, as it may think appropriate, to the Government;
d to participate in, and advise on, the planning proceedings for the socio-economic development of the forward communities and evaluate the progress of their development in the State;
e to make recommendations as to the measures to be taken by the Government for the effective implementation of provisions and other measures necessary for the welfare and socio-economic development of the forward communities and to submit report to the Government annually or at such time, as the Commission may deem fit;
f to conduct studies, research and analysis on the issues relating to social, economic and educational progress of forward communities;
g to suggest appropriate measures to be adopted by the Government in respect of forward communities;
h to submit report to the Government periodically or specially, on any matter pertaining to forward communities, particularly in respect of difficulties being faced by them;
i to discharge such other functions in relation to the protection, welfare, development and advancement of the forward communities, as may be prescribed;
j to do any other matter pertaining to forward communities, entrusted by the Government.

Powers of the Commission.
1 The Commission, while performing its functions under section 9, shall have all the powers of a civil court trying a suit and in particular, in respect of the following matters,namely:—
a summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person from any part of the State and examining him on oath;
b requiring the discovery and production of any document;
c receiving evidence on affidavits;
d demanding any public record or copy thereof from any court or office;
e the examination of witnesses and inspection of records; and
f any other matter as may be prescribed.
2 The Commission may, for the purpose of taking evidence in connection with enquiries, utilise the services of any officer of the Government or investigation agency.
3 The officer or investigation agency, whose services have been utilised under sub-section (2) of the Act(2/2016), shall take evidence after making enquiry regarding it and the report thereon shall be submitted to the Commission within the period fixed by the Commission in this behalf.
4 The Commission shall satisfy itself regarding the correctness of any inferences arrived at in the report or facts in the report submitted under sub-section (3) of the Act(2/2016) and for this purpose it may conduct enquiry as it deems fit, including the examination of the person who had taken the evidence or assisted for the same.