Public hearing reveals gaps in SC/ST Atrocities Act implementation in Telangana

By A Representative 

A seven-member jury of legal, academic and social experts has urged Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to immediately convene the State-Level High Power Vigilance and Monitoring Committee, citing what it described as a “grim picture of systemic caste-based violence and institutional neglect” in the implementation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

In a letter dated March 11, the jury—comprising Justice (Retd.) Nimma Narayana, Prof. Rama Melkote, Prof. K. Lakshmi Narayana, Prof. Sujatha Surepally, Prof. Kalpana Kannabiran, Advocate V. Raghunath, and Special Public Prosecutor Darshanam Narasimha—drew attention to findings from a public hearing held on January 25, 2026, in Hyderabad. The hearing was organised by the Telangana unit of the National Alliance of People's Movements along with the Dalit Bahujan Front and several grassroots organisations.

The event, held at Ailamma Hall in Sundarayya Vignana Kendram, brought together victims and survivors from more than 22 districts across the state. Around 100 cases of alleged atrocities were documented, of which over 30 were presented before the jury.

According to the jury, testimonies revealed a wide range of caste-based abuses, including honour killings, sexual violence, custodial torture, murders of Dalit youth on false allegations, sexual exploitation of Dalit women, attacks linked to inter-caste relationships, demolition of Dalit homes, social boycotts, denial of temple entry, workplace harassment, and encroachment on Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe lands. The accounts also highlighted violations linked to the poor implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, affecting Adivasi and forest-dwelling communities.

The jury said it was “deeply disturbed” by the testimonies, noting that many participants had travelled from remote areas at personal risk and expense to seek justice. It pointed to serious gaps in the enforcement of the PoA Act and its Rules, alleging deliberate negligence by police and revenue officials.

The letter highlighted several recurring issues, including refusal or delay in registering FIRs, pressure on victims to reach informal settlements, failure to invoke relevant provisions of the Act, weak investigations leading to low conviction rates, delays in filing charge sheets, and non-disbursement of compensation and relief as mandated.

Citing a Right to Information (RTI) reply from the SC Development Department dated January 23, 2026, the jury noted that in 2024, interim relief to victims within the stipulated seven days was not provided in any case. It also stated that no cases were registered under Sections 4 and 5 of the Act against public servants for wilful neglect of duty, no legal aid was extended to victims in 27 districts, and mandated surveys and review meetings were not conducted regularly.

The jury further pointed out that the State-Level High Power Vigilance and Monitoring Committee, reconstituted under the Chief Minister’s chairmanship through G.O.Ms. No. 5 on February 27, 2025, has not met even once since its reconstitution, despite the legal requirement of biannual meetings.

Describing this lapse as a key reason for the continued underreporting and normalisation of atrocities, the jury said the absence of periodic reviews has undermined constitutional guarantees of equality, dignity and justice for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

With the Assembly session underway, the jury has called for an urgent meeting of the committee within March 2026 to review the implementation of the PoA Act, relief and rehabilitation measures, and reports from nodal and special officers.

It also recommended strict adherence to timelines for FIR registration, investigation, trial and compensation; invocation of Section 4 against negligent officials; provision of effective legal aid; activation of district-level vigilance committees within two months; and capacity-building of police, revenue and judicial officials to handle atrocity cases sensitively.

Additionally, the jury stressed the need for expedited and comprehensive implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, to prevent unlawful evictions and secure land rights for Adivasi communities.

The panel said it is preparing a detailed report based on the testimonies and has sought an early meeting with the Chief Minister to discuss further steps. It underscored the need for urgent intervention to uphold the constitutional vision of B. R. Ambedkar and restore public confidence in the state’s commitment to protecting vulnerable communities.