Madurai Bench seeks reply from Tamil Nadu officials on SC/ST Act case probe

Court Notice

Lawyer Selvakumar from Madurai filed a case in the Madras High Court Madurai Bench demanding a proper study on how police handle cases under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act. Police in southern districts like Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Theni, Dindigul, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, and Kanniyakumari do not register cases immediately when complaints come in from people belonging to scheduled communities. The plea asks the court to order a review of all cases registered under this law over the last five years, pointing out delays in filing first information reports, keeping investigations pending for a long time, and issues with witness protection. Judges P. Velmurugan and R. Poornima heard the petition on Friday and ordered the state home secretary, social justice secretary, and the Director-General of Police (DGP) to file their reply statements.

Context

The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act is a central law meant to protect marginalized communities from discrimination and violence in India. Courts regularly examine how state police forces implement these special laws to ensure fast and fair justice for victims.