Government keen on more powers for civil rights cell

The government told the Council on Monday that the Civil Rights Enforcement (CRE) cell of the police department would be given more teeth and power for arresting, registering cases against and prosecuting those involved in atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes on a par with regular police stations.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that in civil society, none should be subjected to atrocities and the inhuman practice should be given up. The laws were uniform for all. Those availing fake caste certificates to get employment and other benefits of the government would face stringent action and the cases would be acted upon in six months, he said.

Raising the issue, Tara Anooradha (BJP) demanded measures from the government to prevent the inhuman practice of treating SC/STs like animals. She said that such incidents were being reported in the constituency of the chief minister.

Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya said that, at present, the CRE cell does not have prosecuting powers and they take up cases after the first information report (FIR) is filed in regular police stations. The Madhya Pradesh government has made laws giving prosecuting powers to the CRE cell and that the State government would get details to implement it here too.

As many as 702 people have availed fake caste certificates, of whom many have gone on to become judges and chief engineers. Investigations against them would be expedited, the minister said.

Leader of the Opposition K S Eshwarappa and Basavaraj Horatti (JDS) demanded that a timeframe be set for prosecuting the 702 accused.