Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has issued a strict directive to his officials over the practice of Devadasi system in the state. He said that if any instance of this practice is found, then immediate action will be taken against the Superintendent of Police (SP) and District Collector without any delay.
Addressing the issue of atrocities based on caste, CM Siddaramaiah expressed serious concern over accused individuals securing easy bail. The CM also stated that this reflects a weakness in the system and makes it impossible to prevent such crimes.
Allegations of discrimination in promotions
Karnataka CM directed officials to provide details on how many appeals were made, how many bails were canceled, and how many convictions were secured in such cases.
Siddaramaiah also raised concerns about injustice in police promotions and highlighted violations in the seniority list, and discrimination against Scheduled Caste officers.
He said complaints were brought to the attention of senior officers, but no resolution was made. Displeased with the negligence, the CM directed officials to escalate the matter to the next cabinet meeting and ensure strict adherence to reservation policies in promotions.
Crackdown on caste atrocities
Focusing on the need for swift action in caste atrocity cases, Siddaramaiah ordered that charge sheets must be filed within 60 days. He also ordered officials to take legal action to lift any stay orders that obstruct the progress of these cases.
Karnataka CM also expressed disappointment over the conviction rate and said conviction rate in these cases remains at a mere 3 per cent. Officials were asked to improve the quality of investigations and present stronger evidence before the courts.
Expedite process of pending courts
The CM also pointed out that only three special courts have been approved to handle atrocity cases, while 24 more courts are still awaiting approval. He directed the Chief Secretary to expedite the process and ensure swift clearance for the pending courts.
Further, the CM addressed delays in POCSO and other serious crime cases, stressing that slow investigations lead to loss of evidence and weaken cases in court. The CM instructed prosecution teams to work towards faster resolutions and stronger convictions.
These issues were discussed in a high-level meeting at Vidhana Soudha and was attended by ministers, SC/ST leaders, and officials from the Social Welfare Department.
