Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has issued firm directions to police and administrative officers to ensure speedy justice for citizens belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) and effectively curb crimes against them. He said chargesheets must be filed in court within the stipulated period of 60 days in every SC/ST-related case, with full compliance across all cases. Negligence, laxity or dereliction at any level in securing justice for victims would not be tolerated, he said.
The Chief Minister was chairing a meeting of the State-Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee in Chandigarh to review the implementation of the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955. Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Krishan Kumar Bedi was also present.
In the meeting, it was informed that action had been taken against 10 police personnel for negligence in securing justice for victims. Senior officers have also been appointed as nodal officers at the district and subdivision levels to regularly monitor the progress, investigation and timely disposal of cases.
He specifically directed that police stations registering higher numbers of such cases be identified separately and placed under close monitoring by senior officers. Police activity should be stepped up in the areas concerned, and effective action ensured at sensitive locations. Long-pending cases should also be disposed of expeditiously on priority.
