NCSC writes to Rajasthan, M.P. and U.P

Voicing their woes: Members of a Dalit organisation raising slogans during the “Bharat Bandh” on Monday.

Voicing their woes: Members of a Dalit organisation raising slogans during the “Bharat Bandh” on Monday.   | Photo Credit: Ranjeet Kumar

Vice Chairman of SC Commission says Modi government has strengthened the SC/ST Act

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has written to the governments of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to file reports on the reasons behind the violence and deaths during the recent Bharat Bandh called by Dalit organisations against the alleged dilution in the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The States have also been asked to find out if there was some “conspiracy” that led the protests to get out of hand.

A senior functionary of the Commission told The Hindu on condition of anonymity that Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh were going to the polls this year, leading to the suspicion that there could be a conspiracy angle.

The protests came in the wake of the Supreme Court laying down some procedures like a preliminary police enquiry to ensure that a complaint under the Act was not frivolous. It also barred automatic arrest under the Act to balance the need to protect disadvantaged sections with the need to ensure that no innocent citizen was harassed.

Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani staging a protest against the death of Dalits during ‘Bharat Bandh’, in Bengaluru.

Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani staging a protest against the death of Dalits during ‘Bharat Bandh’, in Bengaluru.   | Photo Credit: PTI

 

Seeking to project the Centre as being responsible for strengthening of the Act, Vice Chairman of the Commission L. Murugan told journalists on Wednesday that the Narendra Modi government had strengthened the SC/ST Act through an amendment.

“In the old Act of 1989, if there was a murder, there was only ₹1 lakh compensation. But under the amended Act, there is compensation of ₹8.25 lakh, and also additional compensation. There is basic pension for the widow of the victim, and also free education up to the graduation level,” Mr. Murugan said. He added that there is provision for a government job to a member of the victim’s family, and a house and land under the new amendment. He added that officers found to be negligent in their duty were punishable under the amended Act.

The Centre has filed a review plea in the SC seeking reconsideration of its decision to ban automatic arrests and registration of a criminal complaint under the Act.