[ZESTCaste] TN Govt Directed to Pay Monthly Pension to Dalit Woman

[Siddhartha Kumar]

http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?676619

TN Govt Directed to Pay Monthly Pension to Dalit Woman
Madurai | Mar 13, 2010

A division bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu
government to pay a monthly pension of Rs 1000 to a Dalit woman, whose
husband was murdered by caste Hindus in Tiruchirapalli district.

Justices F.M.Ibrahim Kalifullah and K B K Vasuki directed the
government to provide educational allowance to the woman's children in
one month,disposing a Public Interest Litigation.

The bench directed Tiruchi District Collector and Adidravidar and
tribal welfare department secretary to take steps to pay pension
arrears, besides ensuring that the money was disbursed on or before
the tenth day of every month.

Petitioner's Counsel said the Government had paid only a lump sum of
Rs two lakh and not the monthly pension,as stated under SC and ST
tribes (Prevention of Atrocities rules 1995.

The Bench said the government should follow statutory provisions. "In
as much as the reliefs have tobe borne by the state by virtue of
statutory prescription, it is imperative that such benefits are
granted without any further loss of time to the victims," they said.

The Judges asked the Tiruchi Police commissioner to issue suitable
instructions to cantonment, police station under his jurisdiction to
register cases against all those who allegedly threatened some
witnesses when the latter had gone to the first Additional Session
court on Septemer 14 last

The Commissioner was ordered to ensure that after the case was
registered, it was transferred to an officer in the rank of Assistant
Commissioner of Police,as stipulated under SC/ST(Prevention of
atrocities Act).The ACP should file the report within one month.
Filed At: Mar 13, 2010 15:19 IST ,  Edited At: Mar 13, 2010 15:1