Karnataka’s Dismal 1% Conviction Rate: BANAE’s SOS to Rahul Gandhi—Curb SC/ST Atrocities in Congress-Ruled States

Mumbai- The Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar National Association of Engineers (BANAE) has written a compelling letter to Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, highlighting the alarmingly low conviction rate of less than 1% in cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC–ST) in Karnataka in 2024, as reported by recent news. This is the lowest in India, highlighting a grave failure in the implementation of protective laws.

In the letter, BANAE’s National President, Nagsen Sonare, references an advisory issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on July 2, 2024, based on the 27th National Review Meeting held on November 21, 2023, for the effective implementation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (POA Act) and the Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act. The advisory, dispatched via Speed Post on July 3, 2024, to all state Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries (Home), and Directors General of Police, outlined critical measures.

These include establishing special courts and exclusive police stations, providing specialized training for police and judges, collecting evidence in each atrocity case, filing chargesheets within 60 days as mandated by the POA Act, ensuring police protection for victims and witnesses, and offering immediate relief and rehabilitation. It also emphasized public awareness campaigns, training on the Indian Constitution, rule of law, and stringent provisions of the PCR and POA Acts.

Despite these clear directives, Sonare expressed dismay at the lack of political and administrative will in most states, including Karnataka, to enforce these laws effectively. Government statistics reveal that between 2012 and 2024, Karnataka’s conviction rate in such cases was a mere 2.47%, plummeting to below 1% in 2024, as per a recent newspaper report.

BANAE has urged Rahul Gandhi to direct Karnataka’s Principal Secretary (Home), Director General of Police, and Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE) to implement the MHA’s July 2024 advisory, along with previous advisories issued annually since 2011, in letter and spirit. This, they believe, will boost conviction rates and safeguard the dignity, lives, and liberty of the SC–ST community.

Additionally, BANAE proposed stringent action against officers obstructing the implementation of the POA and PCR Acts. They suggested that the Social Welfare Minister include a specific column in the Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) of IAS, IPS, and state service officers to evaluate their performance in enforcing these laws, compelling greater accountability.

The letter calls for urgent action in Congress-ruled states—Karnataka, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh—to address this crisis. Sonare emphasized, “We hope for immediate steps to prevent atrocities and ensure justice for the SC–ST community in these states.”

Senior journalist and Dalit leader Indudhara Honnapura, while welcoming Karnataka’s move to establish special police stations, cautioned that their success depends on adequate infrastructure, funding, and the appointment of socially committed officers. “These stations must not become dumping grounds for punishment transfers. The move will only be meaningful if implemented effectively,” he stated.

BANAE enclosed copies of the MHA advisory and the newspaper report with the letter, pressing Rahul Gandhi for swift intervention to protect the rights and dignity of the SC–ST community in Congress-governed states.