http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Law-for-SCs--STs-could-be-strengthened--PC/674682
Law for SCs, STs could be strengthened: PC Express news service Posted online: Tue Aug 31 2010, 01:32 hrs New Delhi : Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Monday called for institutionalising of oversight mechanisms at the grassroots level to prevent atrocities against Dalits and tribals even as he asserted that laws dealing with the issue could be strengthened. Responding to a debate on increasing atrocities against SCs and STs in the Lok Sabha, he said regular monthly meetings on the specific issue between the SP, DM, Public Prosecutor and judges of lower judiciary would go a long way in curbing such crimes. Admitting that the number of cases against SCs and STs had increased in the last three years — from 26,665 cases in 2006 to 29,875 in 2007 and 33,365 cases in 2009 — Chidambaram added that the number of convictions, on the other hand, was only around 30 per cent. The disturbing low percentage of convictions, he said, was largely because of the high number of acquittals that was, in turn, caused by delay in justice. “The delay has resulted in disappearance of evidence, which forces witnesses to turn hostile,” he said, adding that speedy justice was hence required. He added that pendency of cases was also very high. Asserting that there had been historical injustice against SCs and STs because of divisions in society, he said the country should not only address the atrocities but also the divisions. Without naming the Mirchpur incident in Haryana where Dalits were allegedly driven out of the village, he said the recent incident in a “neighbouring state” was an example of the manner in which the wealthy and powerful inflict atrocities on these communities and how deeply entrenched the problem was. ------------------------------------ ---- INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to zestmedia-dig...@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ PARTICIPATE:- On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:- If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to zestcaste-subscr...@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/ Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: zestcaste-dig...@yahoogroups.com zestcaste-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zestcaste-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
