SC Indictment: Both Centre & States have Failed Dalits

The Supreme Court has directed the National Legal Services Authority to formulate appropriate schemes to spread awareness and provide free legal aid to members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

It is rare that the Courts give a pronouncement that is both decisive and revealing. The moot question lies regarding implementation. On December 15, 2016, disposing of a petition filed by the National Campaign nine years before in 2006, a three member bench led by Chief Justice T.S.Thakur, DY Chandrachud and L Nageshwar Rao pulled up the Centrak Government and all state governments for a complete and abject failure to implement squarely and fairly the provisions of the SCST Prevention of Atrocities Act.

The Supreme Court, while refusing to monitor the implemention of this specially enacted law aimed to prevent increasing atrocities against India’s Dalits,  has rapped the Centre and states for failing to safeguard the interests of the downtrodden Dalits. It said the laudable intent with which the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was enacted has not been achieved. The Act was even amended through efforts made between 2009-2014 that finally came to fruition in 2015 under the Modi regime.

Expressing anguish over the continued failure on part of the Centre and sates to protect dalits, a three-judge bench — comprising Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and L. Nageswara Rao — said the ever increasing number of cases of crimes committed against the community is also an indication of total failure on the part of the authorities in complying with the provisions of the Act and the Rules. It said the object with which the Act was made stands defeated by the indifferent attitude of the authorities.

Disposing of a writ petition filed by National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights in 2006, the bench said it is true that the state governments are responsible for carrying out the provisions of the Act. At the same time, the central government has an important role to play in ensuring the compliance of the provisions of the Act. The constitutional goal of equality for all the citizens of this country can be achieved only when the rights of the SC and ST are effectively protected.

The bench pointed out that the Act provides protection to the SC and ST for various atrocities affecting social disabilities, properties, malicious prosecution, political rights and economic exploitation. The Act also provides for enhanced punishment for commission of offences against the SC and ST.

Writing the judgment, Justice Rao said the abundant material on record proves that the authorities concerned are guilty of not enforcing the provisions of the Act. The travails of the members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes continue unabated. The bench, therefore, directed the Centre and state governments to strictly enforce the provisions of the Act. The National Commissions are also directed to discharge their duties to protect the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The court asked the National Legal Services Authority to formulate appropriate schemes to spread awareness and provide free legal aid to members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The judgement may be read here.

In the concluding paragraphs of the 27 page judgement, Para 12, the Judges state that,
                                                   “We have carefully examined the material on record and we are  of  the opinion that there  has  been  a  failure  on  the  part  of  the  concerned authorities in                                                          complying with the provisions  of  the  Act  and  Rules. The laudable object with which  the  Act  had  been  made  is  defeated  by  the indifferent  attitude                                                          of  the  authorities.  It  is  true  that  the  State Governments are responsible for carrying out the provisions of  the  Act  as contended by the counsel for the                                                            Union of  India.  At  the  same  time,  the Central Government has an important role to play in ensuring the  compliance of the provisions of the Act. Section                                                        21 (4)  of  the  Act  provides  for  a report  on  the  measures  taken  by  the  Central  Government   and   State Governments for the effective implementation                                                        of the Act to be placed  before the Parliament every year. The constitutional goal of equality for  all  the citizens of this country can  be  achieved  only  when                                                      the rights  of  the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are protected. The  abundant  material on record proves that the authorities concerned are guilty of                                                        not  enforcing the provisions of the Act. The travails of  the  members  of  the  Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes continue unabated.  We  are                                                                  satisfied  that the Central Government and State Governments should be directed to  strictly enforce the provisions of the Act and we do  so.  The  National                                                          Commissions are also directed to discharge their duties to protect the Scheduled  Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The National Legal Services Authority is                                                              requested  to formulate appropriate schemes to spread awareness  and  provide  free  legal aid to members of the Scheduled Castes  and  Scheduled  Tribes.  
                                                    Acknowledging a chronic failure on the part of governments, the para  goes on  further to read,
                                                    “…A  similar situation arose before this Court in Safai Karamchari Andolan  v.  Union  of India, (2014) 11 SCC 224.  The Petitioners therein  filed  a  Writ                                                           Petition seeking  enforcement  of  the  provisions  of  the  Employment   of   Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act,  1993.                                                        
                                                    This Court held as under:
                                                    “24. In the light of various provisions of the Act  referred  to  above  and the Rules in addition to various directions issued by this Court, we  hereby
                                                     direct all  the  State  Governments  and  the  Union  Territories  to  fully implement the same and take appropriate  action  for  non-implementation  as
                                                     well as violation of the provisions contained in the Act 2013.  Inasmuch  as the 2013 Act occupies the entire field, we are of the view that  no  further
                                                     monitoring is required by this Court. However, we once again reiterate  that the duty is cast on all the  States  and  the  Union  Territories  to  fully
                                                     implement and to take action  against  the  violators.  Henceforth,  persons aggrieved are permitted to approach the authorities concerned at  the  first
                                                     instance and thereafter the High Court having jurisdiction.”
 
                                                    13.   The Petitioners are at liberty to approach the  concerned  authorities and thereafter the High Courts for redressal of their  grievances,  if  any.
                                                    In view of the aforesaid, the writ petition is disposed of. No cost.”
 

It said the object with which the Act was made stands defeated by the indifferent attitude of the authorities.

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