This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3833 regarding untouchability cases, answered on August 12, 2025, by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment.
The response acknowledges a significant backlog of cases under the Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act, 1955. As of December 31, 2022, 1161 out of 1186 cases of untouchability against Scheduled Castes and 81 out of 87 cases against Scheduled Tribes were pending in various courts, according to the National Crimes Record Bureau (NCRB).
The government conducts reviews of the implementation of the PCR Act, 1955, and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) (PoA) Act, 1989, at multiple levels. A Central Level Committee, chaired by the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment and co-chaired by the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, oversees implementation. This committee, comprising members from various ministries, commissions, and non-official members, has held twenty-eight meetings, with the last meeting on May 23, 2025.
Additionally, State Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committees (SLVMC), District Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committees (DLVMC), and Sub-Division Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committees (SDLVMC) have been established. In 2023, 12 SLVMC meetings, 1806 DLVMC meetings, and 1878 SDLVMC meetings were held. The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment also conducts regular meetings with State Governments and Union Territory Administrations to monitor the implementation of the PCR Act and the SC/ST PoA Act, advising them to reduce pendency and ensure effective implementation.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for the welfare and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalized sections of society.
SHRI SELVAGANAPATHI T.M.: Member of LOK SABHA who asked the unstarred question No.3833
SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE: Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment who provided the answer to the unstarred question.
National Crimes Record Bureau NCRB: An Indian government agency responsible for collecting and analyzing crime data.
Protection of Civil Rights PCR Act, 1955: An Indian law enacted to prevent and punish the practice of untouchability.
Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities PoA Act, 1989: An Indian law enacted to prevent atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Ministry of Home Affairs: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for internal security, law and order, and related matters.
Union Minister for Tribal Affairs: The Union Minister responsible for tribal affairs in India, serving as Co-chairperson of the Committee.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3833
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2025
REPORT OF UNTOUCHABILITY CASES
3833. SHRI SELVAGANAPATHI T.M.:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that over 97% untouchability cases are still pending in various courts;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any annual review report in this inputs from States
and Union Territories with regard to untouchability cases; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)
(a) & (b): National Crimes Record Bureau (NCRB) compiles and publishes statistical data on
crimes in its publication ‘Crime in India’. The published reports are available till the year 2022.
As per report, as on 31.12.2022, out of total 1186 cases of untouchability against Scheduled
Castes under the Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act, 1955, 1161 are pending in various courts
and out of total 87 cases of untouchability against Scheduled Tribes under the PCR Act, 1955, 81
are pending in various courts.
(c) & (d): At the Central level, a Committee under the Chairpersonship of the Union Minister
for Social Justice and Empowerment, with the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs as Co-
chairperson, and comprising members from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Law and
Justice, Department of Justice, National Commission for Scheduled Castes, National
Commission for Scheduled Tribes, and three non-official members (two from among the SCs
and one from the STs), also reviews the implementation status of the Protection of Civil Rights
(PCR) Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities)
(PoA) Act, 1989, in States and Union Territories. The Committee has so far held twenty-eight
meetings. The last meeting was held on 23-05-2025. In addition to Central Level Committee,
State Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee(SLVMC), District level Vigilance and
Monitoring CommitteeEDLVMC) and Sub-Division Level Vigilance and Monitoring
Committees(SDLVMC) have also been set up to monitor the implementation of the Acts. As per
the information received from the States/UTs, a total of 12 meetings of SLVMC, 1806 meetings
of DLVMC and 1878 meetings of SDLVMC were held during the year 2023.
Further, Department also holds regular meetings with the State Governments and Union
Territory Administrations to monitor the implementation of the PCR Act, 1955 and the SC/ST
(PoA) Act, 1989. States Government/UT administrations are advised to reduce the pendency and
implement these Acts in letter and spirit.
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