Shimla
The meeting of the District Level Vigilance and Awareness Committee under the Scheduled Castes/Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Shimla Anupam Kashyap.
In this meeting, the role of various officers and agencies responsible for the implementation of various provisions and provisions under the Scheduled Castes/Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989, relief amount given to the victims and rehabilitation facilities was reviewed. Under the above Act, there is a provision of minimum Rs. 85 thousand and maximum Rs. 8 lakh 25 thousand relief amount to the victims under various sections.
A total of 33 cases are pending in Shimla district under the Scheduled Castes / Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 from 2018 till date. At the same time, from January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025, 9 cases have been registered in various police stations of the district.
The Deputy Commissioner said that all the stakeholders of the society have to work together. Our priority should be to discharge our responsibilities honestly and make efforts to get justice for the victims. Make as many people as possible aware about this Act so that they can fight for their rights against the wrong in time. The increasing number of acquittals in cases is a matter of concern, hence it is important that the cases are investigated in the right direction so that the exploiter can be punished.
It is mandatory to report every pending case
Anupam Kashyap directed the District Welfare Officer that it is mandatory to inform the Deputy Commissioner every month about the status of every case pending in the court under the Scheduled Castes/Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 so that effective action can be taken towards the early disposal of every case.
It is mandatory to investigate within 60 days
The Deputy Commissioner said that under the said Act, it is mandatory to complete the investigation within 60 days and file a chargesheet to initiate prosecution on time. There is a provision for periodic review of the scheme for the right and entitlement of victims and witnesses to access justice by the State, District and Sub-Divisional Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committees in their respective meetings.
Fact based impartial investigation is our priority
District Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi said in the meeting that the police conducts impartial investigation based on facts in the cases registered under the Scheduled Castes/Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989. He instructed all the investigating officers of the district to conduct the investigation properly and on time. Action will be taken against those investigating officers who do not conduct impartial investigation.
This is present
District Advocate Mukta Kashyap, Additional Superintendent of Police Navdeep Singh, District Welfare Officer Kapil Sharma, DSP Vijay Raghuvanshi, DSP Vikram Chauhan, DSP Shakti, DSP Pranav Chauhan, DSP Naresh Sharma, BR Justa, Narendra Garg, Meenakshi and many other dignitaries were present in this meeting.
