-The Times of India MUMBAI: Sudden spurt in incidents of rape and harassment of girls has prompted chief minister Prithviraj Chavan to set up 25 fast track courts for time bound disposal of serious crime against women. "In Maharashtra, there are 100 fast track courts for speedy disposal of criminal cases...we will approach the Bombay High Court for earmarking 25 of these courts exclusively for serious crime against the women. We feel...

-The Hindu The European Parliament in Strasbourg on Thursday conducted an hour-long debate over the persistence of human rights violations against Dalits in India. While acknowledging the efforts at various levels to eradicate caste discrimination, the Parliament however, expressed alarm at the continually large number of reported and unreported atrocities and widespread untouchability practices, such as manual scavenging. On its previous resolutions on the issue (February 2007 and April 2012), the Parliament noted...

-The Hindu Act needs urgent amendments in order to plug loopholes in implementation: Union Minister The Union Government will bring in amendments to the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, during the Budget session of Parliament next year. Addressing a National Dalit Adivasi Sammelan at Ramlila Maidan here on Friday, Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Kumari Selja said the Act needed urgent amendments in order to plug loopholes in...

-The Hindustan Times A farmer's wife's suicide, another farmer's attempt to end his life, police lathicharge and farmers continuing agitation against land acquisition for a thermal power plant has made Katni a political hotbed.   The BJP and the Congress have locked horns over the development and JD (U) is trying to consolidate its position over the issue. The impact of the farmers' agitation against land acquisition for Welspun Energy Madhya Pradesh...

-Outlook One cannot be prosecuted for hurling castiest abuses at a person from scheduled caste or tribe unless it is proved that the incident took place in "full public view," a Delhi court has said. Additional Sessions Judge Rajnish Bhatnagar made the observation, referring to a provision of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and discharging three members of a family of charges under the Act. "From the bare reading...