Committee To Review 23,000 Cases Against Tribals in Chhattisgarh

After the Congress government’s landslide victory in Chhattisgarh, the committee held its first meeting on 13 May.

A committee, appointed by the Chhattisgarh government to look into cases against the Schedule Tribe and other residents of the Naxal region in the state, is set to start its work this month. Dealing with cases involving more than 23,000 tribals, the committee will be headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice AK Patnaik.

In its meetings on 30 and 31 October, the committee will oversee cases that have around 16,475 tribals accused by police and 6,743 held as under trails.

According to The Indian Express, as decided by the terms of references, the committee will refer those cases to the state government which either deserve a second look or withdrawal of proceedings.

WHAT ARE THE TERMS OF REFERENCES?

According to the terms of references decided:

• If the committee does not find enough evidence against the accused, it has the authority to recommend withdrawal of procedures
• It can drop cases in which police are yet to file a report before the court
• In accordance to the Code of Criminal Procudure, the committee can recommend appropriate plea bargaining

The terms of references were finalised on 11 September and according to it, the committee can examine all cases that have been registered by police and/or pending in different courts.

The committee was constituted when the Congress government was voted to power last year.

(With inputs from The Indian Express)