Victims Of Scheduled Cast And Scheduled Tribe
- IJLLR Journal
- Dec 14, 2025
- 1 min read
Ritesh Raj V K, The Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University
ABSTRACT
One of the most persistent human-rights problems in India is the continued victimisation of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). Despite progressive constitutional guarantees and targeted statutes—most notably the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989—caste-based discrimination and violence remain pervasive in both rural and urban settings. Members of SC/ST communities continue to endure physical violence, economic exploitation, social ostracism, sexual abuse, loss of land, and institutional neglect. Their victimhood is not merely individual misfortune but is rooted in entrenched social hierarchies and structural inequality.
This article examines the conceptual, legal, social, and institutional dimensions of SC/ST victimisation. It traces historical marginalisation and contemporary abuses, identifies gaps in criminal responses and shortcomings in policing, and highlights obstacles victims face in seeking redress. The discussion includes major judicial trends that have shaped protective mechanisms. The paper concludes with policy-oriented recommendations aimed at enhancing victims’ rights, improving accountability, and achieving substantive equality.
Keywords: Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Victimisation, Atrocities Act, Caste Discrimination, Human Rights, Social Justice, Constitutional Protections, Criminal Law, Marginalisation.
