1. SHORT TITLE AND COMMENCEMENT: (1) These rules may be called the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995.

(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

2. DEFINITIONS: In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires: -

(a) "Act" means the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (33 of 1989);

(b) "dependent", with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, includes wife, children, whether married or unmarried, dependent parents, widowed sister, widow and children of pre-deceased son of a victims of atrocity;

(c) "identified area" means such area where State Government has reason to believe that atrocity may take place or there is an apprehension of reoccurrence of an offence under the Act or an area prone to victim of atrocity;

(d) "Non Government Organisation" means a voluntary organisation engaged in the welfare activities relating to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes and registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1866 (21 of 1866) or under any law for the registration of documents or such organisation for the time being in force;

(e) "Schedule" means the Schedule annexed to these rules;

(f) "Section" means section of the Act;

(g) "State Government", in relation to a Union Territory, means the Administrator of that Union Territory appointed by the President under Article 239 of the Constitution;

(h) words and expressions used herein and not defined but defined in the Act shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Act.

3. PRECAUTIONARY AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES:

1. With a view to prevent atrocities on the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, the State Government shall: -

(i) identify the area where it has reason to believe that atrocity may take place or there is an apprehension of reoccurrence of an offence under the Act ;

(ii) order the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police or any other officer to visit the identified area and review the law and order situation ;

(iii) if deem necessary, in the identified area cancel the arms licenses of the persons, not being member of the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes, their near relations, servants or employees and family friends and get such arms deposited in the Government Armoury ;

(iv) seize all illegal fire arms and prohibit any illegal manufacture of fire arms ;

(v) with a view to ensure the safety of person an property, if deem necessary, provide arms licenses to the members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes ;

(vi) constitute a high power State-level committee, district and divisional level committees or such number of other committees as deem proper and necessary for assisting the Government in implementation of the provisions of the Act ;

(vii) set-up a vigilance and monitoring committee to suggest effective measures to implement the provisions of the Act ;

(viii) set-up Awareness Centres and organise Workshops in the identified area or at some other place to educate the persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes about their rights and the protection available to them under the provisions of various Central and State enactments or rules, regulations and schemes framed thereunder ;

(ix) encourage Non-Government Organisations for establishing and maintaining Awareness Centres and organising Workshops and provide them necessary financial and other sort of assistance ;

(x) deploy special police force in the identified area ;

(xi) by the end of every quarter, review the law and order situation, functioning of different committees, performance of Special Public Prosecutors, Investigating Officers and other Officers responsible for implementing the provisions of the Act and the cases registered under the Act.

4. SUPERVISION OF PROSECUTION AND SUBMISSION OF REPORT: -

(1) The State Government on the recommendation of the District Magistrate shall prepare for each District panel of such number of eminent senior advocates who has been in practice for not less than seven years, as it may deem necessary for conducting cases in the Special Courts. Similarly, in consultation with the Director Prosecution incharge of the prosecution, a panel of such number of Public Prosecutors as it may deem necessary for conducting cases in the Special Courts, shall also be specified. Both these panels shall be notified in the Official Gazette of the State and shall remain in force for a period of three years.

(2) The District Magistrate and the Director of prosecution/incharge of the prosecution shall review at least twice in a calendar year, in the month of January and July, the performance of Special Public Prosecutors so specified or appointed and submit a report to the State Government.

(3) If the State Government is satisfied or has reason to believe that a Special Public Prosecutor so appointed or specified has not conducted the case to the best of the ability and with due care and caution, his name may be, for reasons to be recorded in writing, denotified.

(4) The District Magistrate and the officer-in-charge of the prosecution at the District level, shall review the position of cases registered under the Act and submit a monthly report on or before 20th day of each subsequent month to the Director of Prosecution and the State Government. This report shall specify the action taken/proposed to be taken in respect of investigation and prosecution of each case.

(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1) the District Magistrate or the Sub-Divisional Magistrate may, if deem necessary, or if so desired by the victims of atrocity engage an eminent Senior Advocate for conducting cases in the Special Courts on such payment of fee as he may consider appropriate.

(6) Payment of fee to the Special Public Prosecutor shall be fixed by the State Government on a scale higher than the other panel advocates in the State.

5. INFORMATION TO POLICE OFFICER IN-CHARGE OF A POLICE STATION :

(1) Every information relating to the commission of an offence under the Act, if given orally to an officer in-charge of a police station shall be reduced to writing by him or under his direction, and be read over to the informant, and every such information, whether given in writing or reduced to writing as aforesaid, shall be signed by the persons giving it, and the substance thereof shall be entered in a book to be maintained by that police station.

(2) A copy of the information as so recorded under sub-rule (1) above shall be given forthwith, free of cost, to the informant.

(3) Any person aggrieved by a refusal on the part of an officer incharge of a police station to record the information referred to in sub-rule (1) may send the substance of such information, in writing and by post, to the Superintendent of Police concerned who after investigation either by himself or by a police officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police, shall make an order in writing to the officer in-charge of the concerned police station to enter the substance of that information to be entered in the book to be maintained by that the police station.

6. SPOT INSPECTION BY OFFICERS:

(1) Whenever the District Magistrate or the sub-Divisional Magistrate or any other Executive Magistrate or any police officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police receives an information from any person or upon his own knowledge that an atrocity has been committed on the members of the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes within his jurisdiction, he shall immediately himself visit the place of occurrence to assess the extent of atrocity, loss of life, loss and damage to the property and submit a report forthwith to the State Government.

(2) The District Magistrate or the sub-Divisional Magistrate or any other executive Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police after inspecting the place or area shall on the spot:-

(i) draw a list of victims, their family members and dependents entitled for relief;

(ii) prepare a detailed report of the extent of atrocity loss and damage to the property of the victims;

(iii) order for intensive police patrolling in the area;

(iv) take effective and necessary steps to provide protection to the witnesses and other sympathisers of the victims;

(v) provide immediate relief to the victims;

7. INVESTIGATING OFFICER

(1) An offence committed under the Act shall be investigated by a police officer not below the rank of a Deputy Superintendent of Police. The investigating officer shall be appointed by the State Government/Director General of Police/Superintendent of Police after taking into account his past experience, sense of ability and justice to perceive the implications of the case and investigate it along with right lines within the shortest possible time.

(2) The investigating officer so appointed under sub-rule (1) shall complete the investigation on top priority within thirty days and submit the report to the Superintendent of Police who in turn will immediately forward the report to the Director General of Police of the State Government.

(3) The Home Secretary and the Social Welfare Secretary to the State Government, Director of Prosecution the officer in-charge of Prosecution and the Director General of Police shall review by the end of every quarter the position of all investigations done by the investigating officer.

8. SETTING UP OF THE SCHEDULED CASTES AND THE SCHEDULED TRIBES PROTECTION CELL

(1) The State Government shall set up Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes Protection Cell at the State head quarter under the charge of Director of Police/Inspector General police. This Cell shall be responsible for:-

(i) conducting survey of the identified area;

(ii) maintaining public order and tranquility in the identified area;

(iii) recommending to the State Government for deployment of special police force or establishment of special police post in the identified area;

(iv) making investigations about the probable causes leading to an offence under the Act;

(v) restoring the feeling of security amongst the members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes;

(vi) informing the nodal officer and special officer about the law and order situation in the identified area;

(vii) making enquiries about the investigation and spot inspections conducted by various officers;

(viii) making enquiries about the action taken by the Superintendent of Police in the cases where an officer in -charge of the police station has refused to enter and information in a book to be maintained by that police station under sub-rule (3) of rule 5;

(ix) making enquiries about the willful negligence by a public servant;

(x) reviewing the position of cases registered under the Act; and

(xi) submitting a monthly report on or before 20th day of each subsequent month to the State Government nodal officer about the action taken/proposed to be taken in respect of the above.

9. NOMINATION OF NODAL OFFICER

The State Government shall nominate a nodal officer of the level of a Secretary to the State Government preferably belonging to the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes, for co-ordinating the functioning of the District Magistrates and Superintendent of Police or the offices authorised by them investigating officers and other officers responsible for implementing the provisions of the Act. By the end of the every quarter, the nodal officer shall review;-

(i) the reports received by the State Government under sub-rule (2) and (4) of rule 4,rule 6, clause (xi) of rule 8.

(ii) the position of cases registered under the Act;

(iii) law and order situation in the identified area;

(iv) various kinds of measures adopted for providing immediate relief in cash or kind or both to the victims of atrocity or his or her dependent;

(v) adequacy of immediate facilities like rationing, clothing, shelter, legal aid, travelling allowance, daily allowance, and transport facilities provided to the victims of atrocity or his/her dependants;

(vi) performance of non-Governmental organisations, the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes Protection Cell, various committees and the public servants responsible for implementing the provisions of the Act.

10. APPOINTMENT OF A SPECIAL OFFICER

In the identified area a Special Officer not below the rank of a Additional District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police or other officers responsible for implementing the provisions of the Act, various committees and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes Protection Cell. The Special Officer shall be responsible for:

(i) providing immediate relief and other facilities to the victims of atrocity and initiate necessary measures to prevent or avoid re-occurrence of atrocity ;

(ii) setting up an awareness centre and organising workshop in the identified area or at the district head quarters to educate the persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes about their rights and the protection available to them under the provisions of various Central and State enactments or rules and schemes etc. framed therein ;

(iii) co-ordinating with the non Governmental organisations and providing necessary facilities and financial and other type of assistance to non-Governmental Organisation for maintaining centres or organising workshops ;

11. TRAVELLING ALLOWANCE DAILY ALLOWANCE MAINTENANCE EXPENSES AND TRANSPORT FACILITIES TO THE VICTIM OF ATROCITY, HIS OR HER DEPENDENT AND WITNESSES

(1) Every victim of atrocity or his/her dependent and witnesses shall be paid to and fro rail fare by second class in express/mail/passenger train or actual bus or taxi fare from his /her place of residence or actual bus or taxi fare from his/her place of residence or place of stay to the place of investigation or hearing of trial of an offence under the Act.

(2) The District Magistrate or the sub-Divisional Magistrate or any other Executive Magistrate shall make necessary arrangements for providing transport facilities or reimbursement of full payment thereof to the victims of atrocity and witnesses for visiting the investigating officer, Superintendent of Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police, District Magistrate or any other Executive Magistrate.

(3) Every women witness, the victim of atrocity or her dependent being a woman or a minor, a person more than sixty years of age and a person having 40 percent or more disability shall be entitled to be accompanied by an attendant of her/his choice. The attendant shall also be paid travelling and maintenance expenses as applicable to the witness or the victim of atrocity when called upon during hearing, investigation and trial of an offence under the Act.

(4) The witness, the victims of atrocity or his/her dependent and the attendant shall be paid daily maintenance expenses, for the days he/she is away from the place of his /her residence or stay during investigation, hearing and trial of an offence, of such rates but not less than the minimum wages, as may be fixed by the State Government for the agricultural laboures.

(5) In addition to daily maintenance expenses the witness, the victim of atrocity (or his/her dependant) and the attendant shall also be paid diet expenses at such rates as may be fixed by the State Government from time to time.

(6) The payment of travelling allowances, daily allowance, maintenance expenses and reimbursement of transport facilities shall be made immediately or not later than three days by the District Magistrate or the Sub-divisional Magistrate or any other Executive Magistrate to the victims that dependants attendant and witnesses for the days they visit the investigating officer or in-charge police station or hospital authorities or Superintendent of Police/Deputy Superintendent of Police or District Magistrate or any other officer concerned or the Special Court.

(7) When an offence has been committed under Section 3 of the Act, the District Magistrate or the Sub-Divisional Magistrate or any other Executive Magistrate shall reimburse the payment of medicines, special medical consultation, blood transfusion, replacement of essential clothing, meals and fruits provided to the victim (s) of atrocity.

12. MEASURES TO BE TAKEN BY THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION: -

(1) The District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police shall visit the place or area where the atrocity has been committed to assess the loss of life and damage to the property and draw a list of victim their family members and dependents entitled for relief.

(2) Superintendent of Police shall ensure that the First information Report is registered in the book of the concerned police station and effective measures for apprehending the accused are taken.

(3) The Superintendent of Police, after spot inspection, shall immediately appoint an investigation officer and deploy such police force in the area and take such other preventive measures as he may deem proper and necessary.

(4) The District Magistrate or the Sub Divisional Magistrate or any other Executive Magistrate shall make arrangements for providing immediate relief in cash or in kind or both to the victims of atrocity, their family members and dependents according to the scale as in the schedule annexed to these Rules (Annexure-1). Such immediate relief shall also include food, water, clothing, shelter, medical aid, transport facilities and other essential items necessary for human beings.

(5) The relief provided to the victim of the atrocity or his/her dependent under sub-rule (4) in respect of death, or injury or damage to property shall be in addition to any other right to claim compensation in respect there of under any other law for the time being in force.

(6) The relief and rehabilitation facilities mentioned in sub-rule (4) above shall be provided by the District Magistrate or the Sub-Divisional Magistrate or any other Executive Magistrate in accordance with the scales provided in the Schedule annexed to these rules.

(7) A report of the relief and rehabilitation facilities provided to the victims shall also be forwarded to the Special Court by the District Magistrate or the Sub-Divisional Magistrate or the Executive Magistrate or Superintendent of Police. In case the Special Court is satisfied that the payment of relief was not made to the victim or his/her dependent in time or the amount of relief or compensation was not sufficient or only a part of payment of relief or compensation was made, it may order for making in full or part the payment of relief or any other kind of assistance.

13. SELECTION OF OFFICERS AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS FOR COMPLETING THE WORK RELATING TO ATROCITY:

(1) The State Government shall ensure that the administrative officers and other staff members to be appointed in an area prone to atrocity shall have the right aptitude and understanding of the problems of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.

(2) It shall also be ensured by the State Government that person from the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes are adequately represented in the administration and in the police force at all levels, particularly at the level of police posts and police station.

14. SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT

The State Government shall make necessary provisions in its annual budget for providing relief and rehabilitation facilities to the victims of atrocity. It shall review at least twice in a calendar year, in the month of January and July the performance of the Special Public Prosecutor specific or appointed under Section 15 of the Act, various reports received, investigation made and preventing steps taken by the District magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, relief and rehabilitation facilities provided to the victims and the reports in respect of lapses on behalf of the concerned officers.

15. CONTINGENCY PLAN BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT

(1) The State Government shall prepare a model contingency plan for implementing the provisions of the Act and notify the same in the Official Gazette of the State Government. It should specify the role and responsibility of various departments and their officers a different levels, the role and responsibility of various departments and their officers a different levels, the role and responsibility of Rural/Urban, Local Bodies and Non-Government Organisations. Inter alia this plan shall contain a package of relief measures including the following:

(a) scheme to provide immediate relief in cash or in kind or both ;

(b) allotment of agricultural land and house sites ;

(c) the rehabilitation packages ;

(d) scheme for employment in Government or Government undertaking to the dependant or one of the family members of the victim ;

(e) pension scheme for widows, dependant children of the deceased, handicapped or old age victims of atrocity.

(f) mandatory compensation for the victims ;

(g) Scheme for strengthening the socio-economic condition of the victim ;

(h) provisions for providing brick/stone masonry house to the victims;

(i) such other elements as health care, supply of essential commodities, electrification, adequate drinking water facility burial/cremation ground and link roads to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes habitats.

(2) The State Government shall forward a copy of the contingency plan or a summary thereof and a copy of the scheme, as soon as may be, to the Central Government in the Ministry of Welfare and to all the District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Magistrates. Inspectors General of Police and Superintendents of Police.

16. CONSTITUTION OF STATE-LEVEL VIGILANCE AND MONITORING COMMITTEE

(1) The State Government shall constitute a high power vigilance and monitoring committee of not more than 25 members consisting of the following:

(i) Chief Minister/Administrator-Chairman (in case of a State under President’s Rule Governor-Chairman).

(ii) Home Minister, Finance Minister and Welfare Minister- Members (in case of a State under the President’s Rule Advisors-Members).

(iii) all elected Members of Parliament and State Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council from the State belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes-Members

(iv) Chief Secretary, the Home Secretary, the Director General of Police, Director/Deputy Director National Commission for Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes-Members.

(v) The Secretary in-charge of the Welfare and Development of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes-Convenor

(2) The high power vigilance and monitoring committee shall meet at least twice in a calendar year, in the month of January and July to review the implementation of the provisions of the Act, relief and rehabilitation facilities provided to the victims and other matters connected therewith, prosecution of cases under the Act, role of different officers/agencies responsible for implementing, the provisions of the Act and various reports received by the State Government.

17. CONSTITUTION OF DISTRICT LEVEL VIGILANCE AND MONITORING COMMITTEE

(1) In each district within the State, the District Magistrate shall set up a vigilance and monitoring committee in his district to review the implementation of the provisions of the Act, relief and rehabilitation facilities provided to the victims and other matters connected therewith, prosecution of cases under the Act, role of different officers/agencies responsible for implementing the provisions of the Act and various reports received by the District Administration.

(2) The district level vigilance and monitoring committee shall consist of the elected Members of the Parliament and State Legislative Assembly and Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, Superintendent of Police, three group 'A' officers/Gazetted officers of the State Government belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, not more than 5 non- official Members belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes and not more than 3 members from the categories other than the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes having association with Non-Government Organisations. The District Magistrate and District Social Welfare Officer shall be Chairman and Member Secretary respectively.

(3) The district level committee shall meet at least once in three months.

18. MATERIAL FOR ANNUAL REPORT

The State Government shall every, before the 31st March, forward the report to the Central Government about the measures taken for implementing provisions of the Act and various schemes plans framed by it during the previous calendar year.

[File No. 11012/1/89-PCR (Desk)] GANGA DAS,
Join Secretary

ANNEXUR- I
Schedule

[See rule 12 (4)]

Norms for Relief Amount

Name of Offences
Minimum amount of relief

1. Drink or eat inedible or obnoxious substance [Sec.3 (1) (i)]

2. Causing injury insult or annoyance [Sec.3 (1)(ii)]

3. Derogatory Act [Sec.3 (1)(iii)]
Rs. 25,000 or more depending upon the nature and gravity of the offense to each victim and also commensurate with the indignity, insult, injury and defamation suffered by the victim.

Payment to be made as follows:

I. 25% when the chargesheet is sent to court;

II. 75% when accused are convicted by the lower court.

4. Wrongful occupation or cultivation of land. etc. [Sec.3 (1)(iv)]

5. Relating to land, premises and water [Sec.3 (1)(v)]
At least Rs. 25,000 or more depending upon the nature and gravity of the offense. The land/premises/water supply shall be restored where necessary at Government cost. Full payment to be made when chargesheet is sent to the Court.

6. Begar or forced or bonded labour [(Sec.3 (1)(vi)]
At least Rs. 25,000 to each victim. Payment of 25% at First Information Report stage and 75% on conviction in lower court.

7. Relating to right to franchise [Sec.3 (1)(vii)]
Up to Rs. 20,000 to each victim depending upon the nature and gravity of offense.

8. False, malicious or vexatious legal proceedings [Sec.3 (1)(viii)]

9. False and frivolous information [Sec.3 (1)(ix)]
Rs. 25,000 or reimbursement of actual legal expenses and damages whichever is less after conclusion of the trial of the accused.

10. Insult, intimidation and humiliation [Sec.3 (1)(x)]
Up to Rs. 25000 to each victim depending upon the nature of the offense. Payment of 25% when chargesheet is sent to the court and the rest on conviction.

11. Outraging the modesty of a woman [Sec.3 (1)(xi)

12. Sexual exploitation of a woman [Sec.3 (1) (xii)]
Rs. 50,000 to each victim of offence. 50% of the amount may be paid after medical examination and remaining 50% at the conclusion of trial.

13. Fouling of water [Sec.3 (1)(xiii)]
Up to Rs. 1,00,000 or full cost of restoration of normal facility, including cleaning when the water is fouled. Payment may be made at the stage as deemed fit by District Administration.

14. Denial of customary rights of passage [Sec.3(1)(xiv)]
Up to Rs. 1,00,000 or full cost of restoration of right of passage and full compensation of the loss suffered, if any. Payment of 50% when chargesheet is sent to the court and 50% on conviction in lower court.

15. Making one desert place of residence [Sec.3 (1)(xv)]
Restoration of the site/right to stay and compensation of Rs. 25,000 to each victim and reconstruction of house at Govt. cost, if destroyed, to be paid in full when chargesheet is sent to the lower court.

16. Giving false evidence [Sec.3 (2)(i) and (ii)]
At least Rs. 1,00,000 or full compensation of the loss or harm sustained. 50% to be paid when charge-sheet is sent to the court and 50% on conviction by the lower court.

17. Committing offences under the Indian Penal Code punishable with imprisonment for a term of 10years or more [Sec.3 (2) (v)]
At least Rs. 50,000 depending upon the nature and gravity of the offence to each victim and or his dependents. The amount would vary if specifically otherwise provided in the Schedule.

18. Victimization at the hands of a public servant [Sec.3 (2) (vii)]

Full compensation on account of damages or loss of harm sustained. 50% to be paid when chargesheet is sent to the Court and 50% on conviction by lower court.

19. Disability.

(a) 100% incapacitation.

(i) Non-earning member of a family.

(ii) Earning member of a family.

(b) Where incapacitation is less than 100%.

At least Rs. 1,00,000 to each victim of offence. 50% on FIR and 25% at charge-sheet and 25% on conviction by the lower court.

At least Rs. 2,00,000 to each victim of offence, 50% to be paid on FIR/Medical examination stage, 25% when charge-sheet sent to court and 25% at conviction in lower court.

The rates are laid down in (i) and (ii) above shall be reduced in the same proportion, the stages of payment also being the same. However, not less than Rs. 15,000 to a non-earning member and not less than Rs. 30,000 to an earning member of the family.

20. Murder/Death

(a) Non-earning member of a family.

(b)Earning member of a family.

At least Rs. 1,00,000 to each case Payment of 75% after postmortem and 25% on conviction by the lower court.

At least Rs. 2,00,000/-to each case. Payment of 75% after Postmortem and 25% on conviction by the lower court.

21. Victim of murder, death, massacre, rape, mass rape and gang rape, permanent incapacitation and dacoity.
In addition to relief amount paid under above items, relief may be arranged within three months of date of atrocity as follows:

(i) Pension to each widow and /or other dependents of deceased SC & ST @ Rs. 1,000 per month, or employment to one member of the family of the deceased, or provision of agricultural land, a house, if necessary by outright purchase.

(ii) Full cost of the education and maintenance of the children of the victims. Children may be admitted to the Ashram Schools/residential schools.

(iii) Provision of utensils, rice, wheat, dals, pulses, etc. for a period of three months.

22. Complete destruction/burnt houses.
Brick/stone masonery house to be constructed or provided at Government cost where it has been burnt or destroyed.

ANNEXURE-II
(REPORT)
No.4-2/83-HW.III

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF WELFARE

New Delhi, the 6th August, 1986

Subject: Uniform Definitions of the Physically Handicapped

At present, different definitions for various categories of handicapped are adopted in various schemes/programmes of the Central and State Governments. In order to have a standard set of definitions, authorised certification authorities and standard tests for purprose of objective certification, Government of India Ministry of Welfare set up three committees under the Chairmanship of Director General of Health Services-one each in the area of visual handicaps, speech and hearing disorders and locomotor disabilities and a separate Committee for mental handicaps.

2, After having considered the reports of these committees and with the concurrence of the State Governments/UTs and the concerned Ministries/Departments the undersigned is directed to convey the approval of the President to notify the definitions of the following categories of physically handicapped:-

Visually handicaps
Locomotor handicaps
Speech and hearing handicaps
Mental handicaps.
Report of the Committee as indicated in the Annexure*

3. Each category of fhandicapped persons has been divided into four groups viz. mild moderate, severe and profound/total. It has been decided that various concessions/benefits would in future be available only to the moderate, severe and profound/total groups: and not to the moderate, severe and profound/total groups: and not to the mild groups. The minimum degree of disability should be 40 percent in order to be eligible for any concession benefits.

4. It has been decided that the authorised certifying authority will be a medical board at the district level. The board will consist of the Chief Medical Officer Sub-Divisional Medical Officer in the District and another expert in the specified field viz. ophthalmic surgeon in case of visual handicaps, either an ENT Surgeon or an audiologist in case of speech and hearing handicaps an orthopaedic surgeon or a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation in case of locomotor handicaps, a psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist or a teacher in special education in case of mental handicaps.

5. Specified tests as indicated in Annexure should be conducted by the medicala board and recorded before a certificate is given.

6. The certificate would be valid for a period of three years.

7. The State Govts./UT Admn. may constitute the medical boards indicated in para 4 above immediately.

M.C.NARSIMHAN

Jt.Secy. to the Govt. of India.

ORDER

Ordered that the above notification be published in the Gazette of India for general information. A copy of the Gazette notification may be sent to all Ministries/Deptt. of the Central Govt. all State Govt./UT Admn. President Sectt., P.M.s Office, Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha Sectt. For information and necessary action.

M.C. NARSIMHAN

Jt.Secy. to the Govt. of India