Bengaluru: During the state-level Vigilance and in-charge Committee meeting held at the Conference Hall of the Vidhana Soudha, Siddaramaiah, chairing the meeting, expressed serious concerns about the delays in filing charge sheets in crimes against Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). He presented statistics that raised questions about the officials’ handling of these cases.
Over the past five years, a total of 10,893 cases have been registered, Siddaramaiah revealed. Shockingly, among these cases, 1,100 have not seen charge sheets filed within the stipulated 120 days. The former Chief Minister pointed out that this reflects indifference on the part of the officers towards the welfare of SC and ST communities and is detrimental to the pursuit of justice for the victims.
Siddaramaiah issued a stern warning that such negligence would not be tolerated. He highlighted the legal implications of delayed charge sheets, noting that when charge sheets are not filed within 90 days under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CRPC) and within 60 days under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, it becomes easier for the accused to obtain bail. This, in turn, raises concerns about the deterrence value of the law.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the low rate of punishment under the Prevention of Atrocities Act, which stands at a mere 3.44 percent, Siddaramaiah questioned whether the Karnataka Police had been neglectful in handling SC/ST atrocity cases over the past five years. He made it clear that his government would not tolerate such lapses.
Siddaramaiah also laid out a plan of action. He stated that Superintendent of Police (SP) and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) will be held directly responsible, and action will be taken against the investigators responsible for the delays. To ensure accountability and progress, he emphasized the need for monthly review meetings regarding the investigation of these cases.
Additionally, the Chief Minister announced the issuance of circulars to all Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and district in-charge ministers, urging them to review the progress of atrocity cases during Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) meetings. District Commissioners were also instructed to conduct meetings and review the progress of these cases, further emphasizing the government’s commitment to addressing the issues faced by SC and ST communities.