Parliamentarians Speak against atrocities on Dalits

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MPs unite to protest atrocities against dalits
TNN, Aug 31, 2010, 03.52am IST

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NEW DELHI: In a debate that saw MPs from almost all parties registering their strong protests over rising incidents of atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Tribes, home minister P Chidambaram said district judges needed to ensure proper and speedy disposal of such cases in their jurisdiction.

Chidambaram pointed to a high pendency of more than 70% for cases relating to dalits and tribals and said these were adversely affected by delays, witnesses vanishing or turning hostile or indifference of police investigators. The role of the district judge in holding monthly meetings to assess progress of cases and pushing DMs and SPs to ensure quick disposal was necessary, the minister said.

Replying to a debate in Lok Sabha on Monday, Chidambaram pointed out that cases of atrocities against SCs/STs had risen over 2006-08 and while this could be because of higher registration as these sections assert themselves, 33,000 cases in 2008 was a matter of deep shame. "Some of this crime is aimed at crippling SCs economically," the minister said.

Though he refrained from naming states, he alluded to a recent incident in a neighbouring state, clearly Haryana, where dalits had to flee from the village they inhabited. He pointed to a circular issued by the home ministry on April 1, 2010 outlining guidelines on how such cases were to be dealt with, pointing out that the "will and intent" of state governments was crucial.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi was present through the discussions on Monday as the home minister responded to MPs who said district administrations often lacked the will to pursue accused, often powerful local upper castes. "It is not a matter of pride that so many cases are registered, it is deeply disturbing," Chidambaram said.

The minister also said there were some lacunae in the public order act as courts did not take cognizance of a case until a magistrate committed it to trial. He said some states had set up special courts but these also looked at several other cases apart from those relating to dalits and STs. "Often there is nothing special about these cases." Some states had been better than others, like Andhra Pradesh has set up 22 mobile courts, Tamil Nadu has focused on districts where caste violence is severe while West Bengal has asked district judges to double up as special judges.


Read more: MPs unite to protest atrocities against dalits - India - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/MPs-unite-to-protest-atrocities-against-dalits/articleshow/6462965.cms#ixzz0yAjB4abw

Supreme Court slams Haryana on Mirchpur

Supreme Court slams Haryana over Mirchpur

J. Venkatesan
NEW DELHI: Taking a serious view of the Haryana Government's failure to arrest the perpetrators of atrocities against the Dalits of Mirchpur village, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the State to arrest by this coming Monday all those who are wanted in the case by the police.

A Bench of Justice G. S. Singhvi and Justice A. K. Ganguly is hearing a writ petition filed by Jaswant Singh and others seeking relief and compensation for the Dalit families whose houses were burnt down on April 21.

Justice Singhvi observed, “If those responsible for committing atrocities could not be arrested then what right does the Director-General of Police have to continue in office? If Haryana Police is incapable of arresting those wanted in the Mirchpur violence, then we will ask some paramilitary forces to arrest them.”

When it was submitted on behalf of the State that 52 people involved in the incident had been arrested and the others would be arrested soon, Justice Singhvi asked whether the remaining accused had gone to Dubai or fled to other States in the country. Expressing serious concern over the State's inaction, Justice Singhvi wondered what the State Chief Secretary was doing.

The Bench made it clear that all those wanted in the Mirchpur case should be arrested by Monday. It said all those who had committed the crime should be brought before the law and be made to account for their sins.

Senior counsel Colin Gonsalves submitted that Dalit children were not going to school and that a 14-year-old Dalit girl died of shock after she was scolded and humiliated in school. He said Dalit families were starving as no food was being provided to them.

Justice Singhvi told the State Advocate-General: “Such incidents of killings are taking place for the last five years. Apart from legal issues we are concerned with the humanitarian aspect of the victims. All the people who are uprooted should be settled and protected. They should not live under threat.”

The Bench in its order directed the State Government to provide two quintals of wheat to each of the Dalit family in seven days. It asked the State to furnish all the records in support of its claim that it had given 65 people 100 days' employment under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. The Bench posted the matter for further hearing on September 10.