The Hindu: Madurai: Friday, 15 May 2026.
Officials in many districts, including Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli, have not responded to RTI queries regarding the number of crimes reported and the status of cases, says A. Kathir, executive director of Evidence
Atrocities against
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Tamil Nadu had been continuously
increasing and the new government, headed by C. Joseph Vijay, should give an
assurance to the minorities and the downtrodden that law enforcement would be
strict, said A. Kathir, executive director, Evidence, an NGO fighting for the
rights of the downtrodden and the oppressed classes, here on Thursday.
Addressing a press conference, Mr. Kathir said Evidence had gathered information through the Right to Information (RTI) Act for the last 11 years from across Tamil Nadu with regard to crimes reported in police stations and the number of cases registered, charge-sheets filed and cases pending or disposed of by courts.
Compiling of the date began in February 2026. “The law says officials should give the information within 30 days” else they had to face punishment, he said.
He said officials in Kanniyakumari, Sivaganga, Cuddalore, Ranipet, Tiruchi, Kallakurichi, Kancheepuram, Salem, Karur, Dharmapuri, Tiruvarur, Tiruppur, Perambalur, Erode, Madurai, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Vellore, Ariyalur, Tiruvannamalai, Tirupattur, Pudukottai, The Nilgiris, Mayiladuthurai, Villupuram, Dindigul and Krishnagiri districts, Coimbatore, Salem, Tiruppur and Madurai cities, and Mylapore and Washermenpet in Chennai had responded.
Those in Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tiruvallur, Namakkal, Tenkasi and Theni districts, Tiruchi city, and Kilpauk and T. Nagar in Chennai were yet to respond. In a few cases, Evidence had sent appeals and was awaiting response, Mr. Kathir said.
Several incidents
The date showed that 11,117 incidents had been reported in the last 11 years (2015 — 2025). It was shocking that accused in only 406 of these cases — a mere 3.6% — had been convicted.
Madurai district topped in the number the crimes against SC/STs with 1,322 cases reported and the accused in only 44 cases (3.32%) had been convicted. While Sivaganga district stood second with a conviction rate of 1.32%, in Salem the conviction rate was a negligible 0.56%. In Villupuram district, accused in 77 of the 709 cases (11%) had been punished. In Karur, the conviction rate was 7.36%.
Shockingly, Mr. Kathir said, there was not a single conviction in Mayiladuthurai district. There were over 100 cases pending in police stations. As per Supreme Court directions, the special courts should deliver judgment within three months of the date of filing chargesheets, which should have been completed within two months from the date of registration of cases.
Mr. Kathir said the new government should take it up with an iron hand, which alone would instil confidence among the SC/ST victims. It should give adequate protection to them and enhance the relief amount from ₹12 lakh to ₹25 lakh.
The government should declare Madurai, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Villupuram, Kallakurichi districts “atrocities-prone”. A senior-level IAS officer should be entrusted with overseeing the progress of the cases and police officers in the rank of Inspector General should be made responsible for monitoring the cases.
There were sufficient laws and amendments, the last being done in 2015. However, the crimes against SC/STs increased by 30-35% in Tamil Nadu in the meantime, he said.
Officials in many districts, including Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli, have not responded to RTI queries regarding the number of crimes reported and the status of cases, says A. Kathir, executive director of Evidence
 |
A. Kathir,
executive director, Evidence |
Addressing a press conference, Mr. Kathir said Evidence had gathered information through the Right to Information (RTI) Act for the last 11 years from across Tamil Nadu with regard to crimes reported in police stations and the number of cases registered, charge-sheets filed and cases pending or disposed of by courts.
Compiling of the date began in February 2026. “The law says officials should give the information within 30 days” else they had to face punishment, he said.
He said officials in Kanniyakumari, Sivaganga, Cuddalore, Ranipet, Tiruchi, Kallakurichi, Kancheepuram, Salem, Karur, Dharmapuri, Tiruvarur, Tiruppur, Perambalur, Erode, Madurai, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Vellore, Ariyalur, Tiruvannamalai, Tirupattur, Pudukottai, The Nilgiris, Mayiladuthurai, Villupuram, Dindigul and Krishnagiri districts, Coimbatore, Salem, Tiruppur and Madurai cities, and Mylapore and Washermenpet in Chennai had responded.
Those in Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tiruvallur, Namakkal, Tenkasi and Theni districts, Tiruchi city, and Kilpauk and T. Nagar in Chennai were yet to respond. In a few cases, Evidence had sent appeals and was awaiting response, Mr. Kathir said.
Several incidents
The date showed that 11,117 incidents had been reported in the last 11 years (2015 — 2025). It was shocking that accused in only 406 of these cases — a mere 3.6% — had been convicted.
Madurai district topped in the number the crimes against SC/STs with 1,322 cases reported and the accused in only 44 cases (3.32%) had been convicted. While Sivaganga district stood second with a conviction rate of 1.32%, in Salem the conviction rate was a negligible 0.56%. In Villupuram district, accused in 77 of the 709 cases (11%) had been punished. In Karur, the conviction rate was 7.36%.
Shockingly, Mr. Kathir said, there was not a single conviction in Mayiladuthurai district. There were over 100 cases pending in police stations. As per Supreme Court directions, the special courts should deliver judgment within three months of the date of filing chargesheets, which should have been completed within two months from the date of registration of cases.
Mr. Kathir said the new government should take it up with an iron hand, which alone would instil confidence among the SC/ST victims. It should give adequate protection to them and enhance the relief amount from ₹12 lakh to ₹25 lakh.
The government should declare Madurai, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Villupuram, Kallakurichi districts “atrocities-prone”. A senior-level IAS officer should be entrusted with overseeing the progress of the cases and police officers in the rank of Inspector General should be made responsible for monitoring the cases.
There were sufficient laws and amendments, the last being done in 2015. However, the crimes against SC/STs increased by 30-35% in Tamil Nadu in the meantime, he said.
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