Despite allocation of 25 exclusive courts across Gujarat to deal with cases related to scheduled caste persons, under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, in reality no exclusive courts exist or such cases are tried along with other cases in regular courts. The state government had announced setting up of exclusive courts in 2008-09 and till now about Rs 12 crore have been spent for the purpose. Recent figures revealed by the state government mention that from 2010 to June 2015 around 6,500 fresh cases were registered under the Prevention of Atrocities Act.

Executive director of Navsarjan Manjula Pradeep said courts set up to deliver speedy trials to SCs are not able to function properly as they are loaded with other criminal cases. “As such there are no exclusive courts for atrocity cases in Gujarat,” she stressed.

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