“Denotification of the Rathvas as Adivasis in Gujarat” by Arjun Rathva, Dhananjay Rai and N Rajaram (EPW, 8 February 2014) is a timely intervention in evolving debates on this marginalised section of the people. I would like to add the following points to it:

(i) Though the lists of the scheduled tribes (STs) are notified state-wise and union territory-wise, a state government or union territory has no power to de-notify any of the tribes on its own. This power vests with the union government through a presidential order, so the move of the Gujarat government to de-notify the Rathvas as a ST is unconstitutional.