{"id":29930,"date":"2024-09-24T20:25:22","date_gmt":"2024-09-24T14:55:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=29930"},"modified":"2024-10-14T13:06:13","modified_gmt":"2024-10-14T07:36:13","slug":"report-under-the-scheduled-castes-and-scheduled-tribes-prevention-of-atrocities-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/24-09-2024\/report-under-the-scheduled-castes-and-scheduled-tribes-prevention-of-atrocities-act","title":{"rendered":"Report under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/Social Issues<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A recent government report revealed that 98.91% of atrocities against Scheduled Tribes (STs) in 2022 were concentrated in 13 states.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Facts About the Report<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Cases for SCs:<\/strong> Of the total cases registered under the law for Scheduled Castes (SCs) in 2022, Uttar Pradesh accounted for 23.78%, followed by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Other States with a significant number of cases of atrocities against SCs were Bihar with (13.16%), Odisha (6.93%), and Maharashtra (5.24%).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These six States accounted for nearly <strong>81% of the total cases.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cases for STs: <\/strong>The majority of cases of atrocities against STs were concentrated in 13 States.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Madhya Pradesh reported the highest number (30.61%), Rajasthan had the second highest number of cases (25.66%) while Odisha (7.94%).&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other States with a significant number of cases included Maharashtra (7.10%) and Andhra Pradesh (5.13%).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Declining Conviction Rates:<\/strong> In 2022, the conviction rate under the Act dropped<strong> to 32.4% from 39.2% in 2020.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lack of Special Courts: <\/strong>The report pointed out the inadequate number of special courts set up to handle cases under the law.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Of 498 districts in 14 States, only 194 had established special courts to expedite trials in these cases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Special police stations for registration of complaints of offenses <\/strong>against SCs and STs have been set up by five states \u2013 Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/27-08-2024\/supreme-court-of-india-on-sc-st-act-1989\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/27-08-2024\/supreme-court-of-india-on-sc-st-act-1989\"><strong>SC and STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989<\/strong><\/a>, is a key legislation in India aimed at <strong>preventing atrocities and discrimination against SC and ST.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Definition of Atrocities:<\/strong> The Act defines specific acts considered atrocities, such as physical assault, coercion, and economic exploitation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cognizable offence: <\/strong>All offences listed in the Act are cognizable.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The police can arrest the offender without a warrant and start an investigation into the case without taking any orders from the court.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Punishments: <\/strong>The Act prescribes both minimum as well as maximum punishment.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The minimum in most cases is six months imprisonment while the maximum is five years sentence and with a fine.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In some cases, the minimum is enhanced to one year while the maximum goes up to life imprisonment or even death sentence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fast Track Courts: <\/strong>It mandates the establishment of special courts for the speedy trial of offenses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>No Anticipatory Bail:<\/strong> Provisions that prevent anticipatory bail for accused persons to ensure that the complaints are taken seriously.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Implementation: <\/strong>State governments are tasked with ensuring the implementation of the Act, including the appointment of special public prosecutors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Constitutional Provisions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Article 15: <\/strong>Prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Article 17: <\/strong>Abolishes &#8220;untouchability&#8221; and forbids its practice in any form.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Article 46: <\/strong>Promotes the educational and economic interests of SCs and STs and protects them from social injustice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Article 338: <\/strong>Establishes the National Commission for Scheduled Castes to investigate and monitor the implementation of safeguards for SCs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Article 339: <\/strong>Empowers the President to intervene in the administration of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes for their welfare.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Need for the Safeguards to SC and ST in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Historical Injustice<\/strong>: SCs and STs have faced centuries of systemic oppression and discrimination, leading to social and economic inequalities.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Untouchability Practices: <\/strong>Despite its abolition, practices associated with untouchability persist in some areas, necessitating legal protections.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Atrocities and Violence: <\/strong>SCs and STs are disproportionately affected by violence and atrocities, including physical assault, sexual violence, and economic exploitation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Social Stigma: <\/strong>They often face social ostracism, making them vulnerable to further violence and discrimination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Political Marginalization: <\/strong>Historically, SCs and STs have had limited representation in political and administrative spheres, necessitating affirmative action policies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fostering Inclusion: <\/strong>Safeguards are vital for promoting social harmony and reducing caste-based discrimination, fostering an inclusive society.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Challenges in Implementation of the Act<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lack of Awareness:<\/strong> Many SC and ST individuals are unaware of their rights under the Act, leading to underreporting of atrocities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fear of Retaliation:<\/strong> Victims fear backlash from perpetrators or their communities, deterring them from filing complaints.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Social Isolation:<\/strong> Reporting atrocities can lead to social ostracism, further discouraging victims from seeking justice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Corruption: <\/strong>Corruption within law enforcement result in biased investigations and inadequate action against perpetrators.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Inadequate Infrastructure: <\/strong>Many states lack the necessary infrastructure and resources to effectively implement the Act, such as special courts and trained personnel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Manipulation of Provisions:<\/strong> There are instances where the Act is misused against individuals from non-SC\/ST communities, leading to resentment and calls for repeal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cultural Norms: <\/strong>Deep-rooted caste prejudices and societal norms lead to resistance against the Act, complicating enforcement efforts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The way forward for the inclusion of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes requires a collaborative effort involving government, civil society, and the communities themselves.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>By focusing on education, economic empowerment, legal protections, and social awareness, India can build a more equitable society that respects and uplifts SC and ST communities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/up-rajasthan-mp-top-in-cases-of-atrocities-on-dalits-report\/article68670887.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A recent government report revealed that 98.91% of atrocities against Scheduled Tribes (STs) in 2022 were concentrated in 13 states.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29930","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29930","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29930"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29930\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30784,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29930\/revisions\/30784"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29930"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29930"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29930"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}