HC directs Tamil Nadu govt to file district-wise report on SC/ST Act implementation

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government and the Director General of Police (DGP) to file a comprehensive, district-wise statistical report on the implementation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in the last five years. 

The report is to be submitted to the court on November 24. The court was hearing a plea filed by the founder-director of the Madurai-based rights organisation, Evidence. 

Most notably, the High Court has demanded details of the total number of cases registered under the Act and the number of cases in which investigation has been completed in each district. 

Other significant vectors the court has ordered include the number of cases in which charge sheets have been filed; the number of cases in which charge sheets are yet to be filed; the number of cases pending trial before the respective courts; the number of cases disposed of during the relevant period; and the number of cases resulting in acquittal and conviction, respectively.

The court has also ordered the state government and police to provide details of the number of cases in which the opinion of the Director of Prosecution was sought for filing an appeal or seeking enhancement of sentence. 

Further, details of the number of cases in which appeals have been filed before the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court against an acquittal are also to be provided.

“In the past eleven years [2015–2025], approximately 3,800 cases registered under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have resulted in acquittals. However, it is reported that the state government has filed appeals in only 13 of these cases,” a press statement from Kathir, the founder of Evidence, said. 

Evidence also pointed to a significant gap between the number of acquittals and the number of appeals filed by the state government, despite the Act’s provision to file appeals. 

“In this regard, I filed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking appropriate directions to ensure that the state government takes necessary action to file appeals against acquittal in accordance with the provisions of the Act,” Kathir added. 

Referring to the court’s order, Kathir also said, “This is an important development in our collective efforts to strengthen the implementation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and ensure justice for survivors.”