Relevance (UPSC): GS-II – Polity & Governance (Social Justice); GS-I – Indian Society

On a Friday bazaar in a Bundelkhand village, Meera (Class VIII) buys gur and chana for the walk home. The shopkeeper slips the packet to her with two fingers, asking her to place the coins on a stone, not in his palm. Meera’s friend from a “higher” caste is served normally. It is a small act, but it sits on a long chain of humiliation—separate lines at the water tap, taunts in school, and fear of speaking up. This is how caste violence often starts: with routine disrespect that normalises bigger harms.

Where India stands: facts and law

• The National Crime Records Bureau recorded 57,789 cases of crimes against Scheduled Castes in 2023 (slightly up from 2022) and 12,960 cases against Scheduled Tribes (a sharp rise over 2022).
  
• Court and civil society reviews highlight delayed investigations, low conviction rates, and very high pendency; many cases under the atrocities law still wait in courts.
  
• India’s legal shield includes:
  
  • Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 with Rules, special courts, exclusive public prosecutors, and a relief-rehabilitation schedule.
    
  • Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 that outlaws untouchability.
    
  • Constitutional guarantees: Articles 14–17 (equality and abolition of untouchability), Article 46 (promotion of educational and economic interests of weaker sections), and the National Commissions under Articles 338 and 338A.
    
  • Amendments in 2015 and 2018 strengthened the atrocities law after judicial dilution, restoring immediate registration and arrest where warranted.
    

Why atrocities persist

• Social acceptance of hierarchy: everyday insults, segregation in schools and workplaces, and denial of common resources create fertile ground for violence.
  
• Weak enforcement: delays in the first information report, careless collection of evidence, witness threats, and slow trials blunt the law’s deterrence.
  
• Political silence: caste hatred is often framed as “culture” or “sentiment”, which shrinks space for speaking up.
  
• Economic dependence: landlessness, informal work, and debt make victims reluctant to pursue justice.
  

What the law already promises—but needs in practice

• Time-bound investigation by senior officers; arrest where necessary; prohibition on anticipatory bail for listed offences.
  
• Exclusive special courts and special public prosecutors; victim and witness protection; relief and rehabilitation paid promptly through the district magistrate.
  
• Social and economic measures: scholarships, hostels, land and livelihood support, and protection from social boycott.
  

A Repair Plan

1. Register first, probe fast: compulsory e-first information report, forensic support within fixed timelines, and automatic alerts to district collectors.
   
2. Make courts truly “exclusive”: dedicated judges for atrocities cases; monthly dashboards on pendency and conviction with reasons published online.
   
3. Protect survivors and witnesses: safe houses, travel support, and confidential contact points run by women-led civil society groups.
   
4. Zero tolerance in the State: strict action for refusal to register cases; police and prosecutors to face service consequences for illegal delays.
   
5. End manual scavenging completely: proactive surveys, machine cleaning mandates, and immediate rehabilitation under the 2013 law.
   
6. Equality at school: no segregation in seating, water, or mid-day meals; social inclusion audits each term; complaint boxes with rapid response.
   
7. Fair work and markets: anti-discrimination clauses in public procurement and industrial townships; helplines for workplace caste abuse.
   
8. Community mediation without impunity: peace committees led by teachers, nurses, and retired officials; quick bond proceedings against repeat instigators.
   
9. Victim-centric compensation: relief to be transferred first, then adjusted during trial; legal aid from the first day, not at charge-sheet.
   
10. National campaign for dignity: a year-long public initiative—“Hinsa Mukt Samaj”—using schools, radio, and local festivals to normalise equality and fraternity.
    

key terms—

• Caste-based atrocity: a criminal act committed because a person belongs to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe.
  
• Untouchability: any form of social exclusion or insult based on caste; it is a crime in itself.
  
• Exclusive special court: a designated court that tries only atrocities cases to prevent delay.
  
• Witness protection: measures that keep a complainant safe—secure housing, anonymity where permitted, and safe travel to court.
  
• Social boycott: collective denial of services or participation; many States treat this as an offence.
  

If a practice would humiliate a child at the sweetshop—separate coins, separate cups, separate benches—it has no place in a civilised society or in public institutions. Laws should make that instinct automatic.

Exam hook

Key takeaways

• Caste cruelty thrives when everyday humiliation is tolerated and the law is slow.
  
• India already has strong statutes; the gap is enforcement, protection, and social permission for equality.
  
• Fast investigation, exclusive courts, survivor support, and a national dignity campaign can bend the curve.
  

UPSC Mains question
“Legal provisions against caste atrocities are necessary but insufficient.” Discuss with reference to the Atrocities Act, the Protection of Civil Rights Act, constitutional guarantees, and measures for survivor protection and social reform. Propose an implementable, time-bound plan for districts with high incidence.

UPSC Prelims question
Q. With reference to protections against caste discrimination in India, consider the following:

1. The Atrocities Act mandates exclusive special courts and special public prosecutors.
   
2. Untouchability is prohibited under Article 17 and punishable under a separate law.
   
3. Anticipatory bail is a right available in all offences under the Atrocities Act.
   
4. District magistrates have roles in relief and rehabilitation to survivors.
   Which of the statements given above are correct?
   Answer: 1, 2 and 4 only.
   

One-line wrap
From the bazaar’s gur–chana slight to headline crimes, the cure is the same—swift law, safe survivors, and a culture that chooses dignity over hierarchy.