Atrocities against oppressed to end

The amendments to SC/ST (POA) act 1989 was made to make it more stringent and cover newer forms of untouchability and atrocities committed against dalits and tribals. “The old act covered a mere 21 forms of atrocities. The amended bill will cover 178 forms of untouchability and atrocities. This is the first time forms of untouchability has been defined in the Act and making it a punishable offence,” said A. Kathir, executive director, Evidence.

Prevention of SC or ST persons from entering a temple or using a common property like lake, well and road, or riding motorcycle or bicycle will be a punishable offence. It also declares as an offence garlanding with footwear, compelling to dispose or carry human or animal carcasses, or do manual scavenging, abusing SCs or STs by caste name in public, attempting to promote feelings of ill-will against SCs or STs or disrespecting any deceased person held in high esteem and imposing or threatening a social or economic boycott.

Kathir said the bill has a separate chapter on the rights of victims and witness. “The bill makes it a duty of the state to make arrangements for protection of victims, their dependents and witnesses. If the accused sought bail, it should be informed to the victim or dependent’s family,” he said. To ensure speedy justice, the bill seeks establishment of exclusive special court for one or more districts and special courts in the districts where fewer cases are recorded. The case should be disposed of in two months from the date of filing of charge sheet.

The necessity for amending the 1989 act arose due to abysmally low conviction rate because of various loopholes in the law , VCK general secretary D. Ravikumar said. “The objective of the bill will be fulfilled only if the state government implements it properly. The rise in crime against dalits and tribals and a spate of honour killing incidents can be checked only if the law is enforced,” he said adding that police officials who usually take counter complaints against dalits to pacify Caste Hindus could be punished for neglect of duties.