Conviction rate in the cases of violence on people belonging to SC and ST categories remained below one per cent during the last four yours in the State.
This was revealed from the data submitted in the State Assembly by ST and SC Development, Minorities Welfare and Backward Classes Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi in response to a question of BJP MlA Dilip Ray on Saturday.
According to the data, no conviction was made in cases of violence on SC and ST people in 2017-18 while a total of 7,828 cases remaining subjudice in different courts.
In 2016-17, while conviction was made in 19 cases, accused persons in 369 cases were set free. The conviction rate was 0.23 per cent, according to the Minister. In 2015-16, the conviction rate was 0.36 per cent with conviction made in 27 cases and accused set free in 478 cases. In the preceding year 2014-15, the conviction rate was 0.33 per cent with 21 cases disposed of convictions and accused set free in 492 cases.
In response to another question of Ray, the Minister said the Vigilance Monitoring Committee and the SC Advisory Board had met in June 2015 and the ST Advisory Council met in May 2015 for the last time. While these bodies need to meet twice as per norms, they have not met regularly due to some unavoidable reasons, the Minister said.