Latest news with #ScheduledTribes(PreventionofAtrocities)Act
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
National SC commission to investigate delay in disbursal of relief measure by Adi Dravidar Welfare Department
Based on the complaint filed by a forum, National Commission for Scheduled Castes has informed about its decision to investigate into the matter regarding delay in disbursal of relief measure to the bereaved SC families and also on the alleged reply of the Director of the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department to the Madras High Court against the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, SC/ST (POA) Rules, 1995 and SC/ST (POA) Amendment Act, 2015. S. Karuppiah, State president, Dalit Liberation Movement of Tamil Nadu had petitioned the commission on May 23, 2025, demanding an action against the Director of the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department for filing an affidavit in the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court which was against the SC/ST (POA) Act, rules and amendment. In 2017, a writ petition was filed by an individual in the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court against the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department for not acting according to the Act and also for delaying the disbursal of relief measures to 18 bereaved SC families who had suffered loss of family members to violent murders in 2014, 2015 and 2016, Mr. Karuppiah said. As more than seven years had passed since the offences were committed, the second relief was not disbursed to the victim's family. The senior official who filed an affidavit in the court for the writ petition on February 7, 2024, stated that 'Since the relief matter pertaining to the 18 families were pending in the court, the department had not released the second part of the relief.' Mr. Karuppiah pointing out to the affidavit, said the writ petition which was filed to expedite the government's action of providing relief, but the senior official citing the very petition, before court had denied the relief to the bereaved family for more than eight years. 'While the reply was insensitive to the pain of the victim's families, it was also against the SC/ST Act 1989, Rules 1995 and Amendment 2015. The Act has stipulated a time period for the release of relief measures and also the duty of the officials in providing relief to the family members,' he added. Condemning the reply, Mr. Karuppiah said he had demanded action against the official under section 4 (Punishment for neglect of duties) of the SC/ST (POA) Act, 1989. The National Commission for SC has accepted the petition and written to Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and the Secretary to Government, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department seeking details of the victims and details regarding their compensation within 15 days of receiving the letter. It had also mentioned that it would be investigating the matter under Article 338 of the Constitution of India.
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Man held for spitting, trying to damage statue of Ambedkar in Hoshiarpur
A man was arrested on Sunday for allegedly spitting on a statue of Dr B R Ambedkar, making derogatory remarks, and attempting to damage a replica of the Constitution near the statue, police said. The incident took place at Ambedkar Chowk near the bus stand here, they said, adding a case was registered. The accused, Jagdeep Singh Matharu alias Deepak, a resident of Tagore Nagar, allegedly climbed stairs leading to the statue with a cloth wrapped around his head, police said, citing the FIR. Matharu allegedly spat multiple times on the statue, shouted that he came to break it, and claimed he did not accept Dr Ambedkar or the Constitution, the FIR stated. The man then allegedly took out a metallic needle, which is generally used to tuck hair under turbans, from his cloth and began scraping at the replica of the Constitution, which was made of cement and other construction material, it said. The accused's actions drew the attention of bystanders, who rushed to the spot and overpowered him before any further damage could be caused. Model Town police station Sub-Inspector Gursahib Singh said the accused has been arrested under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. He said the FIR has been registered on the complaint of Sukhdev Singh, secretary of the Bahujan Samaj Party, Punjab. Further investigation into the incident is underway, the sub-inspector added.
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
‘Separate Act for honour killing essential to address murders committed in same communities'
'As honour killing is even influenced by disparity in economic status of members of the same caste, a separate Act for honour killing is essential,' according to Kausalya of Shankar Social Justice Trust. Speaking at an event organised by Evidence, a non-governmental organisation based in Madurai, on Sunday to honour people working towards social change, Ms. Kausalya said that due to the complex nature of honour killing, which happens within the same caste or within two different caste Hindu communities, not all could be brought under the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Echoing her demand, Kathir, founder of Evidence, said that a similar incident happened between two sub castes in the Scheduled Castes communities in Virudhunagar district. 'In such instances the accused cannot be framed under the SC/ST Act as both the accused and victims are from different SC communities.' Quoting the complexities, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, when he was the Opposition leader, advocated for a separate Act for honour killing. But after coming to power, he questioned the need for a separate Act when the SC/ST Act already existed, he added. When sections for women harassment were already there in the defunct Indian Penal Code, then why was a separate Act made for women harassment, he asked. 'As the intricacies associated with the regular Acts cannot be easily addressed, a specific Act becomes essential.' Pointing out several discrepancies in registering a FIR in violence against SC people, Mr. Kathirsaid the police department, lapdogs of the State, were only trying to dilute the charges to the maximum extent to prevent the caste Hindu communities, to whom most of the police officials belonged to, from being framed under the Act. Pointing out an incident, where the guidelines for the SC/ST Act was issued by the Tamil Nadu government was wrongly stated as Adi Dravidar instead of Scheduled Castes, he said when even senior level officials lacked knowledge, how could the police be blamed for not wholly understanding the Act. 'When the SC/ST Act was a Central act, how could the State government change its name? Also, the guidelines states that the Investigating Officer for SC/ST Act was inspector while it is the DSP who should be the IO,' he added. While lack of knowledge in understanding the Act was a problem, the casteist mentality of the officials and the police department prevented an objective and fair investigation in such cases. The Vadakadu incident, where SCs were attacked by caste Hindus, the Superintendent of Police and Collector refrained from visiting the scene of violence until the Madras High Court's criticism for not following the rules and order to visit the houses. Even to make the officials follow the law, the public had to approach the court, then how could the judicial process be easier for SC people who had to fight against the State, Mr. Kathir said. Activists who spoke at the event suggested a broader review of the progress of Public Prosecutors, IOs by the SC/ST Act, district and State-level committees in investigating and arguing for such SC/ST cases. Without the review of the functioning of the police, how could the State learn about how the Act was being implemented for the welfare of the people for whom the Act was constituted, they asked. Era Saravanan, director of Tamil movie Nandhan, was presented an award for his work towards social change.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- The Hindu
Menstruating girl forced to sit outside classroom for exam: Three surrender before SC/ST Court in Coimbatore
Over a month after a Dalit student of a private school near Pollachi was made to write her annual examination outside the classroom when she was on her menstrual cycle, the three persons booked by the police for the offence surrendered before a court in Coimbatore on Monday. Principal of the matriculation school at Senguttaipalayam near Pollachi M. Anandhi, office assistant Shanthi and Correspondent Thangavelpandian surrendered before the Special Court for the trial of cases registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in Coimbatore. The Negamam police had booked the three accused for offences under Sections 3(1) (r) and 3(1) (za) (D) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. A source said that the accused approached the Madras High Court with anticipatory bail pleas. However, they were instructed to surrender before the SC/ST Act Cases Court in Coimbatore and pray for bail. Judge K. Vivekananthan granted them conditional bail and ordered them to put signatures at Negamam police station daily.
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Casteist slur against former Minister: accused released on bail
KOCHI The Special Court, Thrissur, trying the offences booked under the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act cases released V. Vipindas of Thrissur on bail in a case booked in connection with the alleged casteist slur made against former Minister K. Radhakrishnan. The prosecution case was that the accused posted a casteist slur against Mr. Radhakrishnan in the comment box of a video report on Mr. Radhakrishnan with the knowledge that the former Minister belonged to the Scheduled Caste. Though the police had served a notice on Mr. Radhakrishnan in the case, he chose not to appear in court. The complainant also reported that he had no objection to releasing the accused on bail though the prosecution strongly opposed the bail plea. K. Kamanees, the Special Judge, noted that the gravity of the offence was very high and reflected the unrefined state of mind of the accused in having the audacity to address a Minister by his caste name in public view. The prosecution records revealed that the digital evidence was collected in the case and the accused, who was in jail for seven days, had cooperated with the investigation, noted the judge. The court asked the accused to surrender his passport and furnish sureties.
