Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 20: The Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) Prevention of Atrocities Act -1989 which is recently implemented in J&K and a high power monitoring committee has been constituted by the Government under the chairmanship of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha will defiantly end atrocities with SCs and STs.
This was claimed by tribal researcher, Dr. Javaid Rahi in a programme organised here by the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation on the topic ‘Know Your Rights-SC/ST Atrocities Act 1989’.
Terming it as historic step to end crimes against SCs and STs, he said the SC/ST NGOs and influential people should guide these communities about new rights through media, public programmes, social media etc.
Rahi claimed that the Act provides legal protection to SC/STs of J&K against 20 major offences like denying access to irrigation facilities or forest rights, abusing in caste name, imposing social or economic boycott of SC/STs etc.
He said such victims should approach law and order machinery which include District Magistrate or a Sub-Divisional Magistrate or any other Executive Magistrate or any police officer not below the rank of a Deputy Superintendent of Police and lodge FIR under ST/SC Act 1989.
Rahi further informed that the Act prescribes a provision of imprisonment between six months to five years with fine if accused is found guilty and the accused is not entitled to get anticipatory bail from the court which makes this law very unique and forceful.
He said under the Act, Government will provide legal aid to the affected persons and all travel and maintenance expenses to victims and witness during the trail.
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