Laws for Developments of Dalits

The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955(PCR Act), prescribes punishment for practice of untouchability. The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989,(PoA Act),  is an Act , inter-alia, to prevent the commission of offences against members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, to provide for special courts for trial of such offences and relief and rehabilitation of victims of such offences. Nevertheless, this Ministry does not administer any statute in regard to development of Scheduled Castes.

As per the data of National Crime Records Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs,  number of Scheduled Castes related cases registered by police, under the PCR and PoA Acts,  percentage of cases ending in conviction, acquittal and  pendency thereof, during 2008-2010, is indicated in the table below:-

It is seen from the above table that whereas the number of such cases registered during 2010 under the two Acts declined vis-à-vis cases registered during 2009, the percentage of disposal of cases, ending in conviction, increased during the corresponding period.

The two Acts are implemented by State Government/Union Territory Administrations, which are provided Central assistance mainly for strengthening of enforcement and judicial machinery, publicity and awareness generation, relief amount to the victims of atrocities etc. This Ministry has been addressing them  to implement provisions of the two Acts in letter and spirit, with specific emphasis on setting up of exclusive special courts for speedy trial of cases, sensitization of investigating officers, mass awareness programmes, review of cases ending in acquittal.   Ministry of Home Affairs has also been advising them, inter-alia, regarding steps that need to be taken to afford a greater measure of protection to SCs and STs. 

A Committee under the Chairpersonship of Union Minster for Social Justice & Empowerment which was constituted in the year 2006, also reviews implementation of the two Acts in State/UTs. The Committee has so far held seventeen meetings wherein implementation of the two Acts in 24 States and 4 Union Territories has been reviewed.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri D. Napoleon in a written reply to a question in  Lok Sabha today.