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Chennai, Nov 20 (IANS) VCK general secretary and Villupuram MP D Ravikumar has strongly criticized Tamil Nadu’s poor conviction rate in caste-based crimes, indicating a growing tussle in the ruling DMK alliance, saying the current figures highlight the deeply worrying failure of the state’s law-enforcement and justice systems.
The VCK is an ally of the ruling party DMK and has four MLAs and two MPs. In a detailed statement, Ravikumar said that cases filed by Dalits under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act are being rejected at an alarming rate, often termed “false” without adequate investigation.
He alleged that such results are due to weak handling of cases by the police and lack of seriousness on the part of the enforcement officers in providing justice to the victims of caste atrocities.
Citing 2023 National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, the VCK leader pointed out that crimes against Scheduled Castes are continuously increasing in Tamil Nadu. The state recorded 1,921 cases of atrocities against Dalits in 2023, a sharp increase from 1,377 cases recorded in 2021.
Ravikumar drew comparisons with neighboring Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, all of which reported a decline in crimes against Scheduled Castes during the same period. This, he said, highlights Tamil Nadu’s “disturbing deviation” from national and regional trends.
He further said that there is a backlog of pending cases in the courts of Tamil Nadu. As of 2023, a total of 6,410 cases related to atrocities against Scheduled Castes were already under trial, and 1,502 new cases were added that year, taking the total number of pending cases to 7,912. He warned that such a huge backlog directly impacts the delivery of justice to marginalized communities.
Ravikumar also flagged a worrying disparity in the outcomes of these cases.
In 2023, only 115 convictions were secured, while 830 cases were acquitted, resulting in a conviction rate of only 12 per cent, much lower than the national average of 32 per cent.
He attributed this poor conviction rate to systemic issues, including improper filing of cases, weak charge-sheets, delays in investigation, and inadequate follow-up by the prosecution.
Calling the situation unacceptable, the VCK general secretary said the state should immediately reform its policing and prosecution machinery to ensure justice for Dalits.
He urged the government to strengthen investigation procedures, improve training for police personnel and ensure that cases under the SC/ST Act are dealt with seriously.
Ravikumar said rising atrocities and falling conviction rates undermine Tamil Nadu’s social justice narrative and called for prompt corrective action to restore trust among marginalized communities.
–IANS
AL/DPB