Dr. Udit Raj Congratulates the Govt. and PM for passing Atrocities Bill

I would like to congratulate the Narendra Modi led NDA Government for passing the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2014 in the Lok Sabha today. I am also thankful that the Government took the route of an Ordinance in 2014 till the time such a Bill could be passed by Parliament. The Bill, as was introduced in the Lok Sabha in 2014, seeks to ensure further protection of rights of SC/ST sections of society and ensure that the definition of atrocities under the Act extends to either forcing an SC/ST voter to vote or not vote for a particular candidate, wrongful occupation of their lands and instances of assault or sexual exploitation. New offences, which have predominantly been facets of caste-based violence, such as garlanding with footwear, compelling to dispose or carry human or animal carcasses, or do manual scavenging, or imposing or threatening a social or economic boycott have been included in the Bill. It is also worth pointing out here that the conviction rate under the earlier Act was abysmally low at around 2 to 8%, as the onus of proof was on the victim, which has now been changed in the Act to place the burden of proof on the perpetrator. In this regard, it is also a good move to ensure that an Exclusive Special Court and Special Public Prosecutors be appointed at the District level to try cases under the new Act.

I have been at the forefront of the movement to bring about these changes in the Act, to ensure justice to victims and more importantly, to ensure that perpetrators do not make use of loopholes in the law to escape scot free. It is deeply gratifying that the Bill for which I have been working for the last 18 years, both within Parliament and outside amongst the masses via the All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations, of which I am the founder Chairman has been passed today.

(Udit Raj)

Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha

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