A status report on the implementation of the SCs and STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in Tamil Nadu was released by the Tamil Nadu Right to Information Campaign.
According to the report, a total of 1,476 cases were recorded in 2016, down 19% from 1,822 in 2015, with an average crime rate of 14.1. “Each week there is a murder and a rape of a Dalit, and two riots against the community. Only one rape of an adivasi (ST) is recorded,” a press release quoting the report said.
According to the release, the government has not appealed against acquittal even in a single case. The state-level acquittal rate is 92.21%, with a 100% acquittal rate in Ramanathapuram, Tiruppur, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai, Tiruvallur, Thanjavur, Theni, Chennai, Tiruvannamalai, Coimbatore, Dindigul and Cuddalore.
Slow pace of investigation
“Only 34% (one in three cases) investigation has been completed on time (within 60 days) as stipulated by the law. There is an 81% pendency rate of cases in court,” the report said.
The Campaign recommended that the Chief Minister regularly conduct the State Vigilance and Monitoring Committee (SVMC) meetings with all the statutory reports, the minutes of the SVMC and District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee meetings be published and made available on the government websites, and exclusive special courts with priority to Virudhunagar and Tiruvannamalai be set up.
