Persistence of Atrocities against Scheduled Castes in Haryana: A Study of Nature, Patterns, Causes and Remedial Measures

This research project aimed at undertaking a state-level large scale survey of cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes in Haryana to understand the changing nature, patterns, causes and consequences of caste-based atrocities and effectiveness of the law; and to suggest remedial measures to strengthen the implementation and monitoring of the law to ensure rights of the victims of atrocities to security of life and social justice. The specific objectives of the research included- (i) To study the magnitude, pattern and forms of caste-based atrocities against SCs at state and district levels; (ii) To understand the responses of state machinery towards caste-based atrocities in terms of protection of rights of the SCs and disposal of atrocity cases in special reference to the provisions under the PoA Act Rules; (iii) To examine the access of the victims to specific reliefs/compensation and rehabilitation measures under the law; (iv) To understand the reasons for low conviction or high acquittal; (v) To understand challenges that the victims of atrocities face after the incidence of atrocities in course of registration of complaints, investigation of cases, filing charge sheets, court trials and accessing reliefs/compensation and rehabilitation measures; vi) Consequences of atrocities on the well-being of the victims and members of their communities; (vii) To suggest remedial measures to strengthen the implementation and monitoring of the laws. Given these objectives, the study aimed at drawing evidence from multiple sources that included existing surveys/study reports, reports of state level committees and State Commission for SCs, and documents of civil society organisations on caste-based atrocities; State level data on crimes for various years; fact finding reports prepared by civil society organisations and other agencies; media reportage of incidents of atrocities in recent years; caste studies of victims of atrocities; focused group discussion with both members from both lower and upper castes; and consultation with different State and non-State stakeholders.