Cases of SC/ST atrocities: Nitish Kumar orders timely issuance of injury report

Patna: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday ordered timely issuance of injury reports by medical officers in the cases of atrocities against scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. He said departmental proceedings would be initiated against the health officials and employees who deliberately delay issuance of injury reports.

Addressing a meeting of state-level vigilance and monitoring committee constituted under the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules – 1995, Kumar said, “The issuance of injury reports within a prescribed time frame will not only bring qualitative improvement in investigation of the cases registered under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act-1989, but also improve the criminal investigation system in the state.”

The CM asked chief secretary Ashok Kumar Sinha to convene a meeting of the principal secretary (health), principal secretary (SC/ST welfare), DGP, IGP (weaker sections) and other officers concerned and fix a time frame for issuance/ submission of injury reports by the medical officers. He said, the DGP would ensure enforcement of the time frame for the purpose.

Principal secretary (SC/ ST welfare) K P Ramaiah said the CM also reviewed the cases of payment of pension and monetary compensations to the victims under the SC/ST Act and asked the officials to ensure compensation payments as early as possible.

The CM also ordered the officials to frame necessary rules for recruitment of a district-level officer on approved 38 posts, one in each district, for periodic monitoring and evaluation of the cases under the SC/ST Act. He asked the officials to expedite recruitment of such officers.

The CM asked law secretary Vinod Kumar Sinha to ensure periodic review of work proficiency of special public prosecutors (SPPs), who represent the state government in various district courts in the cases under the SC/ST Act. “Prepare a time-bound schedule to review the performance of SPPs,” he said.

SC/ST welfare minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, Bihar State Scheduled Caste Commission Chairman Vidyanand Vikal, Bihar State Scheduled Tribe Commission Chairman Babu Lal Tuddu, Bihar State Mahdalit Commission Chairman Uday Manhi and some legislators also attended the meeting.

Courtesy: TNN