PANAJI
While on one side the leaders of Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Scheduled Caste (SCs) communities are busy fighting for political reservation, people belonging to these backward castes are waiting for justice from atrocities, with nearly 50 per cent of such cases pending disposal since over the last one decade.
As many as 502 cases of atrocities against SC and ST were filed with the ST & SC Commission from 2011-12 to 2022-23, of which 248 are pending disposal. The Commission has closed 264 cases as of last year.
The data clearly shows that the atrocity cases have witnessed a rise over the years. The maximum number of 88 cases was reported in the year 2020-21 and in 2017-18, that saw 73 cases. It was in 2011-12 that reported the least number of 11 cases.
The year 2020-21 and 2021-22 saw a large number of cases being settled by the Commission. Altogether 118 were closed in these two years alone, while the remaining 146 cases were disposed off in a period of ten years.
According to the Commission, the word ‘Atrocity’ has not been defined in the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (prevention of atrocities) Act 1989. However, the Act has specified the offences punishable under the Act such as intent to cause injury, insult or annoyance, wrongfully occupies or cultivates land belonging to this community, outrages modesty, denial of customary rights, etc.
“While filing complainants at the police station, it is observed that ST or SC people fail to mention the Caste name and also fail to produce certificate, due to which the police are unable to register the FIR under the Act and thus avoids immediate arrest,” the Commission pointed out adding that the Commission too takes cognizance of the case only after production of the caste certificate.
The Goa Commission for SC/ST is a Quasi-Judicial authority and a Court of Atrocity, performs its function by acquiring the powers of Civil Court, Inquire and recommend to the concerned disciplinary authority to initiate disciplinary action, investigate and monitor all matters, look into specific complainant regarding deprivation of the Rights and safeguards in the interest of SC/ST, inquire into any unfair means. Any recommendation passed by the Chairperson can be only challenged in the High Court of the State.
