Lok Sabha Question No. 1299 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-30
Subject: Atrocities against SCs/STs
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Adv. Chandra Shekhar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1299

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 30 TH  JULY, 2024/ SHRAVAN 8, 1946 (SAKA)

ATROCITIES AGAINST SCs/STs

1299 ADV. CHANDRA SHEKHAR:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the number of registered cases of atrocities against SCs/STs in the State of Uttar Pradesh, since 2021, Year-wise; and

(b) the action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI BANDI SANJAY KUMAR)

(a):  National  Crime  Records  Bureau  (NCRB)  compiles  statistical  data on crimes as reported to it by the States/UTs and publishes the same in its publication 'Crime in India'. The latest published report pertains to the year 2022. The details of number of cases registered (CR) under crime against Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) during years 2021-2022 in the State of Uttar Pradesh are given below:-

| State         |   Scheduled Castes |   Scheduled Castes |   Scheduled Tribes |   Scheduled Tribes |
|---------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
| Uttar Pradesh |               2021 |               2022 |               2021 |               2022 |
|               |              13146 |              15368 |                  4 |                  5 |

(b):  'Police'  and  'Public  Order'  are  State  subjects  under  the  Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The responsibility of maintaining law and order, protection of life and property of the citizens including Scheduled Castes  (SCs)  &  Scheduled  Tribes  (STs)  rest  with  the  respective  State Governments and the State Governments are competent to deal with such offences under the extant provisions of laws. However, the Government of India is committed to ensure protection of members of Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes throughout the country and supports the measures of the State Governments to tackle crime against SCs and STs.  The steps taken by the Government of India in this regard are as follows :-

Bureau  of  Police  Research  &  Development  (BPR&D)  conducts  training, courses and webinars from time to time for police personnel sensitizing them  for  effective  implementation  of  Scheduled  Castes  and  Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) (POA) Act, 1989.

To  make  the  Scheduled  Castes  and  Scheduled  Tribes  (Prevention  of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (POA Act) more effective and to provide greater justice and enhanced redressal to injustice suffered by the atrocity victims, this Act  has  been  amended  in  2015.  The  amendment  includes new offences, expanded   scope  of  presumptions,   institutional    strengthening,   which

inter-alia includes establishment of Exclusive Special Courts and specification  of  Exclusive  Special  Public  Prosecutors  to  exclusively  try offences under the POA Act to enable expeditious disposal of cases, power of Special Courts and Exclusive Special Courts to take direct cognizance of offences.  Further,  Section  18  of  the  POA  Act  was  amended  through  the Scheduled  Castes  and  the  Scheduled  Tribes  (Prevention  of  Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2018 and enforced with effect from 20.08.2018. Conduct of a preliminary enquiry before registration of an FIR or to seek approval of any authority prior to arrest of an accused is no longer required.

In addition, Ministry of Home  Affairs has been  advising the State Governments/  UT  Administrations  from  time  to  time  to  give  focused attention  to  effective  administration  of  the  criminal  justice  system  with emphasis on prevention and control of crimes against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and to implement the provisions of the POA Act and Rules in letter and  spirit. These  advisories are available at the  website www.mha.gov.in.

Further,  the  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  has  advised  the  States  and  UTs  to identify the atrocity-prone areas for taking preventive measures to save life and  property  of  the  members  of  the  SC  and  ST  communities  and  post

adequate number  of police personnel, fully equipped with policing infrastructure in the Police Stations in such vulnerable areas.

Further, the  Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment runs a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the effective implementation of Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act, 1955 and the  Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) (Prevention  of Atrocities) {POA} Act 1989, under which Central Assistance is provided to the  State  Governments  and  Union  Territory  Administrations  for  effective implementation of these Acts, which includes :

- (i) Functioning and strengthening of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Protection cell and Special Police Stations.

(ii) Setting up and functioning of exclusive Special Courts.

(iii) Relief and Rehabilitation of atrocity victims.

- (iv)  Incentive  for  Inter-Caste  Marriages,  where  one  of  the  spouses  is  a member of a Scheduled Caste.
- (v) Awareness generation.

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