NEW DELHI: The State governments will set up special courts to try cases registered under the Scheduled Castes and Schedules Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 with a view to bringing down pendency and improve the conviction rate.
This was decided at the end of the two-day annual conference of the State Ministers for Social Welfare and Justice held here last week. The State governments also agreed to strengthen investigation and prosecution machinery, for which the Centre would provide assistance from under the relevant Centrally-sponsored scheme.
Review of acquittals
The State governments were also asked to undertake a thorough review of cases ending in acquittal and also take corrective steps. It was decided to hold meetings of State and District-level Vigilance and Monitoring Committees with prescribed regularity so that cases of atrocities are properly monitored.
Mukul Wasnik, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, said he would visit the States with high incidence of atrocities to conduct a high level joint review.
The States which have not yet switched over from cash payment of scholarship to payment through post office/ banks, agreed to do so in the next 2-3 months. All States agreed to earmark funds under various sub-plans for the SC and STs proportionately and ensure their full utilisation for programmes directly relevant for SCs, as per the guideline of Planning Commission.
Disabilities Act
Welcoming the proposal to comprehensively amend the People with Disabilities Act, the State governments assured the Centre that they would send their comments on the proposed amendments by October 15 and gave a nod to decentralise and simplify the procedure for grant of disability certificates before the year end.
All governments will also endeavour to make their public buildings (especially of education and health institutions and of others with large public dealing) and websites accessible to persons with disabilities in the shortest possible time.