Report on Atrocities Against SCs and STs | 24 Sep 2024

Source: TH 

Why in News?

Recently, the union government has released a report under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 highlighting the status of atrocities against Scheduled Castes in 2022. 

What are the Key Findings of the Report on Atrocities Against SCs and STs? 

• Case Statistics: In 2022, there were 51,656 cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes(SCs) and 9,735 against Scheduled Tribes (STs). Notably, 97.7% of SC cases and 98.91% of ST cases were concentrated in just 13 states. 
• States with Highest Incidents: 
  • For SCs: Following 6 States accounted for nearly 81% of the total cases. 
    • Uttar Pradesh: 12,287 cases (23.78%) 
    • Rajasthan: 8,651 cases (16.75%) 
    • Madhya Pradesh: 7,732 cases (14.97%) 
    • Other States: Bihar with 6,799 (13.16%), Odisha with 3,576 (6.93%), and Maharashtra with 2,706 (5.24%). 
  • For STs: 
    • Madhya Pradesh: 2,979 cases (30.61%) 
    • Rajasthan: 2,498 cases (25.66%) 
    • Odisha: 773 cases (7.94%).  
    • Other States: Maharashtra with 691 (7.10%) and Andhra Pradesh with 499 (5.13%). 
• Charge Sheets and Investigations: 
  • SC-related Cases: Charge sheets were filed in 60.38% of the SC-related cases, while 14.78% were concluded with final reports due to reasons such as false claims or lack of evidence. 
  • ST-related Cases: Charge sheets were filed in 63.32%  of ST-related cases while 14.71% were concluded with final reports. 
  • By the end of 2022, 17,166 cases involving SCs and 2,702 cases involving STs were still under investigation. 
• Conviction Rates: 
  • The conviction rate under the Act has declined from 39.2% in 2020 to 32.4% in 2022, indicating a troubling trend in judicial outcomes. 
• Infrastructure Deficiencies: 
  • Only 194 out of 498 districts in 14 states have established special courts to expedite trials for atrocities against SCs and STs. 
  • Specific districts prone to atrocities have not been adequately identified, with Uttar Pradesh reporting no identified atrocity-prone areas despite having the highest number of cases. 
• Protection Cells:  
  • SC/ST protection cells have been established in various states and union territories, including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and others, as well as union territories like Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry. 

What are the Reasons for Crime Against SC and ST Communities? 

• Caste Prejudice and Untouchability: Deep-rooted caste hierarchies perpetuate discriminatory practices, where SC/ST communities are often deemed "lower" and subjected to social exclusion and violence due to their birth-based caste identity. 
• Land Disputes and Alienation: Historically deprived of land ownership, SC/ST communities face constant conflict over land access, leading to disputes with dominant castes. 
• Economic Marginalisation: Limited access to education, employment, and economic resources heightens the vulnerability of SC/ST groups, leaving them more susceptible to exploitation and violence by dominant communities. 
• Social and Political Power Imbalance: Dominant upper castes often wield disproportionate political and social influence, enabling them to uphold discriminatory practices without fear of legal consequences. 
• Inadequate Implementation of Laws: Although laws like the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act exist to protect these communities, weak enforcement, coupled with police and bureaucratic bias, often hinders justice for victims of caste-based violence. 
• Political Opportunism: Caste tensions are sometimes exacerbated by political actors who exploit them for electoral gains, leading to further polarisation and conflict between communities. 

What is the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989? 

• About:  
  • It was enacted to protect SCs and STs from caste-based violence and discrimination. 
• Objective: 
  • The Act aims to protect Article 15 and Article 17 of the Constitution, seeks to safeguard disadvantaged communities, and addresses the shortcomings of previous legislation, such as the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955. 
• Rules and Implementation: 
  • The Act empowers the Central Government to establish rules for its enforcement, while State Governments and Union Territories are responsible for its administration with central support. 
• Key Provisions: 
  • Offences: It defines various offences against SC/ST members, including physical violence, harassment, and social discrimination, categorising them as atrocities and prescribing stricter punishments than those in the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (BNS, 2023). 
  • Anticipatory Bail Provisions: Section 18 of the Act excludes the application of Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 (Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023), which provides for anticipatory bail.  
  • Special Courts: The Act mandates the establishment of Special Courts for speedy trial and SC/ST Protection Cells at the state level, led by senior police officers, to oversee the implementation of the Act. 
  • Investigations: Investigations into offences under the Act must be conducted by officers not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and must be completed within a stipulated time frame. 
  • Relief and Compensation: The Act provides for relief and rehabilitation of victims, including financial compensation, legal aid, and support services. 
• Exclusions:  
  • The Act does not apply to offences between SCs and STs, nor can they invoke the Act against one another. 
• Recent Amendments: 
  • Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015:  
    • This amendment expanded the definition of offences, including acts like forcing manual scavenging, social ostracism, sexual exploitation, and dedicating SC/ST women as devadasis.  
    • Public servants who fail to perform duties concerning SCs and STs can also face imprisonment. 
  • Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2018: This removed the requirement for approval from a Senior Superintendent of Police before arresting an accused, allowing immediate arrests without prior clearance. 

Way Forward 

• Strengthening Legal Framework: There is a need to enhance the infrastructure for special courts to ensure timely trials and convictions.  
  • Also there is a need to increase the number of trained personnel in law enforcement to handle SC/ST cases sensitively and effectively. 
• Improving Reporting Mechanisms: Establish better reporting and monitoring systems to track atrocities against SCs and STs, ensuring that victims can report incidents without fear of retribution. 
• Awareness and Education: Implement awareness campaigns to educate communities about SC/ST rights and the legal protections available under the Act. 
• Targeted Interventions: Identify and declare atrocity-prone districts, implementing targeted interventions to address the root causes of caste-based violence in these areas. 
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Establish a robust monitoring framework to evaluate the effectiveness of the measures implemented, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement in addressing atrocities against SCs and STs. 
• Collaboration with NGOs: Partner with non-governmental organizations and civil society groups to support victims and advocate for their rights, ensuring their voices are heard in policy-making processes.