‘More than 97 percent ‘untouchability’ cases remain pending, majority result in acquittal’, claims Social Justice Ministry’s data
A recent central government report finds, abysmally, that registration of cases under the Protection of Civil Rights Act fell down to only 13 in 2022, as several states said they had ‘NIL’ information of the law’s implementation.
Simran Kaur
Published on: 23 July 2025, 02:02 pm
A RECENT REPORT made public by the Ministry of Social Justice and Development reveals that more than 97 percent of offences related to “untouchability” under the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 (‘PCR Act’) remained pending before Indian courts as of 2022. What is more concerning is that the majority of the disposed cases result in acquittal. Of the 31 cases disposed of by courts that year, only one led to a conviction, while the rest ended in acquittals.
The data also shows a decline in the registered cases from 24 in 2021 and 25 in 2020 to only 13 cases in 2022. These cases were reported from Jammu and Kashmir (5), Karnataka (5), Maharashtra (2), and Himachal Pradesh (1). Additionally, no State or Union Territory has declared any area as “untouchability prone”. On the other hand, cases under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 have gone up steadily, with 62,501 cases reported in 2022. But here too, 94 percent of the cases remained pending.
The report also flags significant data gaps from various states and union territories. Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Lakshadweep submitted “NIL” information regarding the implementation of the PCR Act. Manipur did not submit any information. Additionally, data on inter-caste marriage incentive schemes was either unreported or incomplete across most states. These figures don’t just reflect gaps in the legal process, they point to a deeper pattern of how caste-based discrimination continues to go unaddressed, both socially and institutionally.
Understanding Article 17 and the PCR Act
The Constitution guarantees a dignified and equal life for all, and in its realisation, Article 17 of the Indian Constitution abolishes the practice of Untouchability. It states that untouchability is forbidden in any form and any disability arising out of it shall be a punishable offence. To bring this provision to life, the Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955 was enacted. Later in 1976, the act was amended and renamed as the PCR Act. The PCR Act provides punishment for the practice of untouchability. Sections 3 to 7A prescribe punishments for various religious, social, medical and economic disabilities. The primary responsibility of implementing the Act lies with the State governments and Union Territories.
