TN high on awareness, low on conviction rates in caste cases

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu is the first state to classify the villages into three categories atrocity prone, highly sensitive and dormant based on the caste clashes and abuses of Dalit people in the recent past, said Alexander Mohan, IG of Human Rights and Social Justice wing.
He said that the awareness on SCs and STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act is high in the state and victims themselves ask the police to invoke its provisions when they made complaints.
According to Mohan, normally caste clashes broke out when denial of basic rights, temple entry, village festivals. In southern districts, the clashes occur during the anniversaries of some caste leaders. Though the police receive 90-100 cases a month, the number sees a spurt during the season of village festivals in certain months.
It was bodily offences in southern districts like Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai and some parts in Tuticorin, and when it's come to northern districts like Villupuram it's mostly outrage of modesty and exploitation of Dalits.
"We are monitoring the situation and have an Inspector in each district to see that the cases properly registered and duly prosecuted. We have four special courts in Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Madurai and Tirunelveli. With more than 2,500 cases pending before the courts, a proposal has been sent to the government to establish special courts in Sivaganga and Villupuram districts to try the offences," he further said.
Cash compensation has been given to victims as prescribed by the SC, ST Act. If a bread winner of a family murdered Rs 2 lakh will be given as compensation and it is Rs 1 lakh for the non-earning member. Rs 50,000 will be the compensation for is rape victims and Rs 25,000 for those abused verbally or intimidation.
Mohan said the government has paid Rs 1.46-crore last year as compensation for 1,192 victims. The official acknowledges that around 40% of the cases were dropped before filing of charge sheet citing mistake of facts. "We normally register the cases as and when filed without going into the merits. There is no burking of cases. The investigation officer, not below the rank of DSP, drops or proceeds it based on the merit and that's why the difference between the number of complaints and conviction rate," he reasons.
Despite the high level of awareness, the conviction rate is abysmally low in the state. Chief minister M Karunanidhi has instructed the authorities for strict implementation of the act and asked them to see that the conviction rate is increased. The cases pending before the courts rose to 2,721 cases now from 1,890 in 2004. Sources said that the victims were not keen in pursuing the cases once they get compensation (substantial portion given immediately after the occurrence). The absence of independent witnesses (not belong to the castes party to the crime) and victims themselves turning hostile due to some reasons were the min reason for the cases ending in acquittal, sources explain.