Social Welfare Minister Mahadevappa warns officials of action for delay to act in atrocity cases

NT Correspondent

Mysuru: State social welfare minister Dr H C Mahadevappa on Friday warned that superintendent of police (SPs) and deputy commissioners (DCs) will be held responsible if the investigation is delayed by them regarding the cases filed under Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes( Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Chairing the progress review meeting with social welfare department officials of Mysuru division districts held at KSOU vice chancellor's office meeting hall in the city, the minister expressed serious displeasure against SPs, DCs and social welfare department officials over the lapses, delay in registering cases, conducting investigation and extending compensation to the victims of atrocities.

The minister also took strong objections to the lowest conviction rate in atrocity cases in all eights districts of Mysuru division including Chamarajanagar, Mandya, Hassan, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu and Chikmagalur.

The main intention of this act is to prevent atrocities on SC/STs and to uphold human rights and dignity of all individuals, to live in peace, he said. If the conviction rate is low,the number of accused who go unpunished will also be high.

As per the act, officials must file the chargesheet the accused within 60 days of the incident after conducting all necessary investigations. He also asked the officials to compulsorily conduct the district level vigilance and monitoring committee meetings.

Mahadevappa bats for son's candidature in LS polls

District in charge and social welfare minister Dr H C Mahadevappa on Friday said that he is seeking a ticket for Sunil Bose to contest as a party candidate from Chamarajanagar reserved parliamentary constituency during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as he is a sincere party worker and not because he is his son.

Speaking to reporters here, he said that election observers from his party high command who visited the district have already collected opinions and a list of probable candidates who wish to contest from both Mysore- Kodagu and Chamarajanagar LS constituencies.

Sunil Bose was a strong contender for the ticket during the Nanjangud bypolls, but the party provided the ticket to another candidate.