The Karnataka government's social welfare department has prepared a ready reckoner for police officers to sternly deal with cases of atrocities against scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
The handbook contains all the provisions of Prevention of Atrocities (SC/ST) Act.
In a press release, the social welfare department said the ready reckoner offers guidance to the officers to ensure that appropriate action is taken.
The department opined that the handbook will help remove the confusion regarding inclusion of correct sections while filing of First Information Reports on cases pertaining to atrocities against scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
Welcoming the handbook, deputy chief minister G Parameshwara said, "This is a step in the right direction, towards a just, and equal society for all.
I would advice all authorities concerned become thoroughly familiar with the provisions of the law and help our government deliver true justice to all sections of society."
Karnatakas Social Welfare Minister Priyank Kharge said in an official release that the handbook will have details of provisions and regulations pertaining to the Prevention of Atrocities against scheduled castes and scheduled tribes Act 2015 and the amended rules of 2016.
Kharge said, "For long there's been confusion over the available provisions of the SC/ST act.
Failure to mention the specific clauses, rules and regulations in the FIRs had in the past resulted in submitting unsuitable arguments before the courts, and thus we have not been able to provide true justice to the victim."
In the event of serious and heinous crime against SC/ST communities, Kharge asked the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of the districts concerned to immediately visit the place of the incident to conduct spot inspection and assess the loss of life and properties.
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