Social Justice Minister Expresses Concern over Low Conviction Rate for Cases of Atrocities against SC/STs

Social Justice Minister Expresses Concern over Low Conviction Rate for Cases of Atrocities against SC/STs

The Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Mukul Wasnik has expressed concern over low conviction rate for cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Tribes (SC/STs). Speaking here today at the two-day National Consultations of Tribal Peoples Movements on implementation of SCs & STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989, the Minister said that it is a matter of great concern that the conviction rate for cases of atrocities against SC/STs is less than 29% against the average of 43% for all cognizable offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). 

Shri Wasnik also expressed his disappointment over the fact that pendency of such cases in the Courts also remains very high as over 80% of cases remained pending with the courts at the end of the year. “Reports of atrocities against SCs and STs unfortunately continue to appear all over the country with disturbing regularity”, the Minister said. He asked the participants to suggest changes which could be brought about in the law to enhance conviction rate and reduce pendency of the cases of atrocities against SC/STs. 

The Minister also informed that the Centre has been impressing upon the States to ensure registration of cases of offences of atrocities against SCs and STs. He said that a Committee constituted under the chairpersonship of the Minister for SJ&E, to devise ways and means to curb offences against SCs and STs, has also been impressing upon the State Governments to take steps to ensure prompt registration of such cases, sensitization of police personnel at all levels, prompt investigation of cases by an officer not below the level of as Deputy Superintendent of Police, filing of effective charge sheets in courts, decrease the pendency of cases in courts by setting up exclusive special courts, filing review appeals in superior courts in regard to cases which ended in acquittal, action against officers for their willful neglect etc. For the purpose of providing speedy trial, 166 exclusive Special Courts have been set up in 9 states, the Minister informed. 

He said that we have also sought the views of the States to changes which could be brought about in the Act to ensure its effective implementation. 

Shri Wasnik also informed the participants about the revised guidelines with regard Scheduled Cates Sub Plan and Tribal Sub Plan (SCSP/TSP) according to which there would be a bifurcation of SCSP and TSP outlays from 2011-12 and all expenditure under SCSP would be shown under 789 minor heads. He said that now the Scheme wise allocation of SCSP has to be separately earmarked and 25 ministries have been identified to show the outlays under SCSP separately. The strategy of Scheduled Cates Sub Plan and Tribal Sub Plan is to give a thrust to family oriented schemes of economic development of SCs/STs below the poverty line. Shri Wasnik said that the revised guidelines are now expected to remove the weaknesses in the earlier guidelines for the SCSP/TSP allocation.