A high-level government task force headed by the Social Justice Secretary has submitted a comprehensive report proposing key amendments to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules. The recommendations aim to adjust victim relief amounts for inflation and strengthen procedural protections.
Key Recommendations
Inflation-Adjusted Financial Relief: Proposes revising the current victim compensation scale (presently ₹85,000 to ₹8.25 lakh, fixed in 2016) to reflect inflation.
Mandatory Victim and Accused Counselling: Introduces formal psychological counselling frameworks for atrocity victims, dependents, and offenders.
Strict 24-Hour Reporting Timeline: Requires police to forward First Information Reports (FIRs) and chargesheets under the Atrocities Act to designated officials within 24 hours.
Audit of Counter FIRs: Recommends random judicial audits of police closure reports in atrocity cases and associated counter-FIRs to prevent witness intimidation.
Specialised Relief Cells: Directs States and Union Territories to establish dedicated Relief and Rehabilitation Cells for affected families.
About the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act
These Rules operate under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, enacted under Article 17 of the Constitution to prevent atrocities against SC/ST communities. Its Special Courts system, victim-rehabilitation entitlements, and immediate-arrest provisions are covered in full in the linked concept below.
Source: The Hindu