New Delhi, Sep 7 (Inditop.com) Describing as “shocking” the low conviction rate in cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday said such cases should be “pursued on priority”.
Emphasising that the “first task” should be to provide “physical security” to these disadvantaged communities, Manmohan Singh noted that reports of atrocities against Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and senior citizens were appearing “all over the country with disturbing regularity”.
“I have written to the chief ministers of all the states to enforce vigorously the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,” he said, inaugurating a state welfare ministers’ conference in New Delhi.
“It is shocking that the conviction rate for cases of atrocities against SC/STs is less than 30 percent against the average of 42 percent for all cognisable offences under the IPC (Indian Penal Code).
“The state governments therefore need to give more attention to this important issue. Meetings of state and district vigilance and monitoring committees should be held more regularly. Court cases should be pursued diligently and on priority basis,” he said.
