78% SC/ST cases unresolved
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Union minister of social justice Mukul Wasnik observed on Tuesday that the pendency of cases of atrocities on SC/STs in Tamil Nadu was high while conviction was low.
Addressing mediapersons in the city, he said almost 78 per cent cases with the SC/ST courts in Tamil Nadu had not reached the judgment stage. “The pendency is high but conviction rate is very low. The state government has to take effective steps to spread awareness about implementation of the Act among officials.”
He suggested that young people who passed the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission exams and took up public service should be updated about the Acts in place for the welfare of SC/STs.
Mr Wasnik added that he had learnt from officials that the provision to file cases against government officials who neglect their duty to register cases on petitions by SC/ST persons had not been used for the last 22 years.
“We came to know that arms licences should be given for needy SC/ST for protection. The Protection of Civil Rights Act should be put to use fully,” he said adding that the Union government made 20 per cent of its purchases from the micro, small and medium enterprises and particularly from SC/ST entrepreneurs.
He also said that he had asked the state government to send him a detail report on atrocity-prone areas.
Reacting to Mr Wasnik’s statements, director of dalit rights NGO, Evidence, Mr A. Kathir said, “Out of seven lakh-odd cases filed in courts every year in the state complaining of atrocities against SC/STs, just 1,200 cases are filed under the relevant provisions of the SC/ST Act.
We have received complaints from petitioners that officials hesitate to register their complaints under the SC/ST Act though the complainants make a mention of it.”
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