SC-ST Act cases see low conviction rate:80 out of 100 accused acquitted; complainants turned hostile in 65 cases after compensation

In a concerning trend, nearly 80 out of 100 cases decided by the SC/ST Special Court in Bhopal since January 2025 have resulted in acquittals. In 65 of these cases, the primary reason was complainants turning hostile during trial, weakening the prosecution’s case. Due to the change in statements, prosecutors were left with insufficient evidence to prove the charges. Compensation allegedly influencing testimonies Under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, victims and complainants are entitled to financial assistance from the government at different stages of the case. However, allegations have surfaced that in some instances, complainants alter their statements after receiving compensation. Compensation structure under the law The compensation is disbursed in stages: Case example: Assault case turns weak In a case from March 2, 2020, complainant Ramdayal Jatav alleged that three accused—Mansingh, Pradeep, and Jamnalal—assaulted him in his field over a ₹500 loan dispute, using caste-based abuses. However, during the trial, he retracted his statement, denying any dispute or assault. Due to lack of evidence, the court acquitted all three accused. Molestation case collapses over contradictions In another case dated July 13, 2019, a woman alleged that a man named Azhar Ali molested her while she was heading from New Market to a hospital with her sister. During the trial, both the victim and her sister gave contradictory statements. They also stated they went directly to the police station instead of the hospital after the incident. The inconsistencies led to the acquittal of the accused. Expert flags misuse, calls for systemic reforms Deepak Agarwal, a retired judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, pointed to systemic issues and alleged misuse of the law. He claimed that a network of corruption exists between police stations and welfare department staff, where alleged victims not only receive government compensation but sometimes also extract money from the accused. According to him, misuse of the law is prevalent in many cases, partly due to provisions that restrict anticipatory bail in certain sections, making it easier to initiate legal action. Suggested reforms The expert suggested key reforms to improve the system: He stressed that without structural reforms, ensuring quality investigation and timely justice would remain a challenge.