Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): The Haryana government will establish special courts in Hisar, Faridabad, Palwal, Rohtak and Bhiwani to speed up the disposal of cases related to offences against Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has also directed police and administrative officials to ensure that chargesheets are filed in 100% of SC-ST cases within the prescribed 60-day period. He warned that negligence or delays in securing justice for victims would not be tolerated.
Saini issued the directions while chairing a meeting of the State-Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee in Chandigarh on November 11. The meeting reviewed the implementation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955. Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Krishan Kumar Bedi was also present.
SC-ST cases in Haryana decline by around 28%
During the meeting, Director General of Police Ajay Singhal informed the Chief Minister that cases related to SC-ST communities had declined by around 28% in the state.
He said the police were implementing the process of filing chargesheets within 60 days in such cases and were working towards ensuring compliance in every case.
The meeting was also informed that action had been taken against 10 police personnel for negligence in handling cases involving victims from SC-ST communities.
Senior officers at district and sub-divisional levels have been appointed as nodal officers to monitor investigations, case progress and timely disposal.
Special courts planned in five districts
To expedite hearings, Saini directed officials to move forward with establishing special courts in Hisar, Faridabad, Palwal, Rohtak and Bhiwani.
He said the courts should help ensure faster hearings so that victims do not have to wait for long periods for justice. Officials were asked to speed up the process of setting up these courts.
The Chief Minister also directed authorities to conduct detailed reviews in districts reporting a relatively higher number of SC-ST cases. Officials have been asked to identify the reasons behind such incidents, assess local conditions and take corrective measures to prevent their recurrence.
Police stations registering a higher number of cases will be identified for closer supervision by senior officers. Pending cases are also to be taken up on priority.
Haryana announces Rs 13.49 crore assistance for atrocity victims
The meeting was informed that 1,046 people affected by atrocities had received financial assistance of Rs 13.49 crore for relief and rehabilitation during the financial year 2026-27 so far.
Under the Mukhyamantri Samajik Samrasta Antarjatiya Vivah Shagun Yojana, 418 beneficiaries had received financial assistance amounting to Rs 10.45 crore during the same period.
The government is also organising speech, essay-writing and debate competitions, along with seminars in schools and colleges, to raise awareness about the prevention of atrocities.
Saini further directed officials to hold district and sub-divisional level meetings regularly within the prescribed schedule and ensure that pending cases are resolved on priority.
He also asked the Panchayat Department to identify panchayats where no SC-ST-related case had been registered in the past two years so that they could be encouraged.
The Chief Minister said the government was committed to social justice, equality and the dignity and safety of every citizen, and called on officials to handle such cases with sensitivity, urgency and accountability.
