Ordinance to protect rights under SC/ST Act sought

Asserting that the recent Supreme Court judgment on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, diluted its provisions and would expose the communities to further attacks, former MP and former Vice-Chancellor of Mumbai University Balachandra Mungekar on Friday demanded that the case be referred to a larger Bench and pending its judgment an ordinance be promulgated to protect their rights.

Dr. Mungekar said in spite of the Act being implemented, conviction rate was a mere 25 %.

In 2016 alone 56,000 cases of atrocities were reported and in 2014, 2015 and 2016 the total number of cases against SCs alone was 1.19 lakh.

Of the 56,000 cases, 64 % were from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar where BJP or BJP and its allies were in power, he said at a press conference here.

In comparison, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Naidu, Karnataka and Kerala the number of cases was less than 15 %, he said.

It shows that strengthening and effective implementation of the Act was needed. Dilution of the Act would be free licence to upper castes, he commented.

Stating that of the 51,000 cases under trial in various courts, only 4,500, about10 %, were confirmed as false, he favoured stringent provisions to punish those filing false cases.

Protest

Dr. Mungekar deplored the delay in the Centre submitting its views to the apex court.

The former Vice-Chancellor was at Tuni to participate in a protest organised by Dalita Hakkula Portata Samiti (DHPS).

Samiti State president J.V. Prabhakar, district general secretary B. Venkata Rao and Prof. M.V.R. Raju were among those present.