Failure Of Contingency Plan Under SC/ ST Act | 29 Dec 2023

Why in News?

The Rajasthan High Court has taken a serious view of the State government’s failure to implement a contingency plan under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995, prepared by a Drafting Committee in 2017.

Key Points

• In 2017, Dalit Manavadhikar Kendra Samiti (DMKS), a non-government organisation,submitted a draft contingency plan to the State government with the provisions for relief and rehabilitation, additional financial assistance to the victims of caste-based violence, protection of witnesses and monitoring mechanism for helping out the victims.
• In the hearing of a public interest writ petition moved by the DMKS, the High Court observed that the very purpose of framing the contingency plan for SC and ST communities would be frustrated if it was delayed in finalisation and implementation.
• 15 States which includes Bihar, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Odisha had formulated comprehensive contingency plans and implemented them.
• The State government at present provides relief to the victims of atrocities under Rule 12(4) of the 1995 Rules laying down that the persons belonging to SC/ST and their family members and dependents will get the relief in cash or kind within seven days of registration of the first information report (FIR).
• The contingency plan to be implemented under Rule 15 of the 1995 rules should specify the role and responsibility of various departments.
• The package should include mandatory compensation to the victims, rehabilitation, government employment and strengthening their socio-economic conditions.