Among the SC-related cases, 60.38% resulted in a charge sheet being filed, while 14.78% were settled with a final report due to reasons such as false claims or lack of evidence. For ST-related cases, 63.32% resulted in a charge sheet being submitted while 14.71% ended up with a final report. Images for representation. | Image Credit: The Hindu
Nearly 97.7% of all cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes in 2022 were reported from 13 states, with Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh recording the highest number of crimes, according to a new government report.
According to the latest government report under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the majority of atrocities against Scheduled Tribes (ST) are also concentrated in 13 states, which reported 98.91% of all cases in 2022.
Of the 51,656 cases registered under the law for Scheduled Castes (SC) in 2022, Uttar Pradesh accounted for 23.78% of the total cases with 12,287, followed by Rajasthan 8,651 (16.75%) and Madhya Pradesh 7,732 (14.97%).
Other states with the highest number of cases of atrocities against SCs are Bihar with 6,799 (13.16%), Odisha with 3,576 (6.93%), and Maharashtra with 2,706 (5.24%).
These six countries accounted for almost 81% of the total cases.
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“Thirteen states, cumulatively accounted for 97.7% (51,656) of the total cases (52,866) relating to offenses of atrocities against SC members, registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, along with the Indian Penal . Code, during the year 2022,” the report said.
Moreover, the majority of cases of atrocities against STs are concentrated in 13 States.
Of the 9,735 cases registered under the law for STs, Madhya Pradesh reported the highest number at 2,979 (30.61%), the report said.
Rajasthan has the second highest number of cases at 2,498 (25.66%) while Odisha recorded 773 (7.94%). Other states with a significant number of cases include Maharashtra with 691 (7.10%) and Andhra Pradesh with 499 (5.13%).
The data also provides information on the status of investigations and prosecutions under the Act.
Among the SC-related cases, 60.38% resulted in a charge sheet being filed, while 14.78% were settled with a final report due to reasons such as false claims or lack of evidence.
By the end of 2022, investigations were pending in 17,166 cases.
For ST-related cases, 63.32% resulted in a charge sheet being submitted while 14.71% ended up with a final report.
At the end of the period under review, 2,702 cases involving atrocities against STs were still under investigation.
One of the most significant trends highlighted in the report is the decline in conviction rates for cases under the Act. In 2022, the confidence level dropped to 32.4% from 39.2% in 2020.
In addition, the report shows that the number of special courts is insufficient to handle cases under the law.
Out of 498 districts in 14 States, only 194 have established special courts to speed up trials in these cases.
The report also identified certain districts as highly prone to atrocities with only 10 states and Union Territories declaring such districts. Others say that no county is prone to such atrocity cases.
Uttar Pradesh, which reported the highest number of atrocity cases to the SC, was among the States that said “No atrocity prone areas have been identified in the State of Uttar Pradesh”.
The report emphasizes the need for targeted interventions in these districts to prevent incidents of caste-based violence and ensure stronger protection for vulnerable communities.
The report also said that SC/ST protection cells have been set up in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, NCT of Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Puducherry.
Special police stations for registering complaints of offenses against SCs and STs have been set up by five states – Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh.
Published – September 23, 2024 03:06 IST
