‘SCs, STs not claiming court travel allowance'

Those who have filed cases under SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act are entitled for it

Participants at the meeting convened by the Mangalore Police Commissionerate to discuss the problems of SCs and STs in Mangalore on Sunday.

The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, who have filed cases under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, have not been claiming travel allowance they are entitled to for attending courts in Dakshina Kannada.

In addition, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, who have been attending courts as witnesses, are also not claiming the allowance, according to Sarvottam Pai, Superintendent of Police, Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement, Mangalore.

At a meeting to address the grievances of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes organised by the Mangalore Police Commissionerate here on Sunday, he said such members should obtain an attendance certificate from the court and produce it before the tahsildar along with travel tickets. He had learnt that every year funds were released but were returned as there were no applicants. He urged the Dalit leaders to create awareness about the provision among the members of their community.

P. Keshava, a leader of the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (Bheemavada), asked whether there was any timeframe to complete the investigations for cases registered under the Act. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) M. Muthuraya said that an officer of the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police or above would investigate the complaint within a month as stipulated by the law.

If cases had been registered with sections under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Act the investigations would take longer time to complete, Mr. Muthuraya said.

To a question, Mr. Pai said though school or college development committees passed resolutions to charge higher fees than prescribed by the Government, no extra amount could be collected from SS/ST students.

Sadashiva, a participant, suggested that a police outpost be set up at Kottara Chowki in the city. Mr. Muthuraya said the city police would look into it.

Leader of the Adi Dravida Samaja Seva Sangha Krishna took objection to a protest by a political party on the Town Hall premises on June 5, against yoga guru Ramdev's arrest in Delhi. Mr. Krishna questioned how the protestors were allowed to gather there when the Town Hall was already booked for another function.

Mr. Muthuraya, replying to another query, said that the leaders of Dalit organisations should approach the Deputy Commissioner and request him to direct the officials of the district administration to attend the monthly grievance meetings.