Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin said on June 25th, 2024 that instead of having a new law to stop killings arising from marrying among different castes, it would be better to expedite legal proceedings and bring the culprits under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the Indian Penal Code.
Following a calling attention motion in the Legislative Assembly regarding an attack on CPM office for such marriages in Tirunelveli district, he announced that special public prosecutors would be appointed to facilitate fast-tracking cases connected with inter-caste marriage related crimes.
“According to the CrPC, these cases are supposed to be investigated by sub-inspectors. However, according to Mr Stalin “In order for these cases to appear significant though, opinions will be sought from legal experts and Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) will be designated as investigation officers.”
He pointed out that fourteen people were arrested in connection with this event including seven women who have been released on bail. “There is prima facie evidence of a caste atrocity. Therefore SC/ST Act has also been included,” he said.
