Relief and Rehabilitation for Victims of Atrocities

Home / Legal Explainers / Citizen Rights & Constitution / Equality & Non-discrimination / Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes / Relief and Rehabilitation for Victims of Atrocities

The law requires measures to be taken by the District administration to provide relief and ensure rehabilitation of members of SCs or STs who have been victims of atrocities and crimes mentioned under this special law.¹ An assessment of the situation or damages will be done by the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police before the relief can be provided.

These immediate relief measures include making arrangements in cash and/or kind to victims, their family members and dependents. It should also include relief in the form of food, water, clothing, shelter, medical aid, transport facilities and any other essential items necessary for human beings. The law also provides for norms in terms of the relief amount for state governments to follow. These norms can be found in the Schedule attached to these Rules.

In cases of death, injury to persons or damage to property, either the victims or their dependents will have an additional right to claim compensation.

Such relief can be provided by either the District Magistrate, Sub-divisional Magistrate or Executive Magistrate.

Rule 12, Schedule Caste Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995.[↩]

Have a question you want to ask our legal experts?

Ask Nyaaya

Related Resources

Reporting a Crime/Atrocity

If a crime has been committed against you due to your identity as member of the SC/STs, you can approach several places for immediate relief.

Externment of Persons Committing Atrocities

If a person is likely to commit crimes against members of SC/STs in scheduled areas, Special Courts can have them removed from there.

Precautionary and preventive measures to be taken by States

The law requires special measures to be taken by the State Governments to prevent atrocities against members of SC/STs.

Investigation of Cases

Investigation for crime against member of SC/STs reported under special law must be done by a police officer of rank of DSP or above.

FIR, Arrest and Bail

No preliminary inquiry needs to be conducted by investigation officer before filing FIR for a crime committed against a member of SC/STs.

Education for Children Belonging to Disadvantaged Groups

It is the duty of the government and the local authorities to ensure that children from disadvantaged groups are not discriminated against and are able to complete their elementary education.