Conviction rate in state poor: SC panel member

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, December 30

The conviction rate for atrocities against Dalits is very poor in Haryana compared to Punjab. This was stated by Ishwar Singh, member of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), here today.

Lack of representation by public prosecutors was the major reason while the accused from upper castes hired reputed lawyers for their cases, he said.

Public prosecutors should work harder in cases of atrocities against Dalits, he said. The NCSC member praised residents of Chandigarh for no case of atrocities against SCs.

He said Panchkula and Fatehabad districts had high conviction rate. Karnal had a conviction rate of less than 9 per cent, he said.

He showed concern over the fact that possession of 100-square-yard plots was not being given to the poor even after eight years.

He said the state government had invited applications for allotment of plots in 2008, but most of the needy were still deprived of possession of land.

“I had asked the Chief Secretary around two months back to submit the number of plots which had been handed over. I also asked the reason for not inviting applications after 2008,” he said.

Ishwar Singh, a former Member of Parliament, was at Panchayat Bhawan to hear around 25 cases pertaining to atrocities against SCs in the district.

Around 60 per cent of the cases had been resolved while some were cancelled for not following procedure. He directed the police to work seriously in a couple of cases.

“I am here to hear grievances of SCs to save their time and money as they have to come to Delhi for hearing,” he said.

Showing his concern over the rise in the crimes against SCs, he said the “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” campaign had resulted in improvement of sex ratio.

He said there were separate cremation grounds for Dalits in Haryana’s villages even 69 years after Independence.

“I have still been receiving complaints of Dalits not being allowed to cremate bodies at places where the last rites of upper castes are performed,” he added.

He asked members of the SC community to follow the proper channel to file a complaint and restrain from filing false complaints.

He asked the government to keep a check on the proper implementation of various welfare schemes meant for Dalits.