COVID-19 second wave should not deter State from imparting training to prosecutors appearing in cases under SC/ST Act: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court recently asked the State government to make its stand clear in imparting training to prosecutors who will be appearing in cases registered under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 [SC/ST Act] amid COVID-19 pandemic. .A Division Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Suraj Govindaraj observed that the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic should not prevent the Director of Prosecution from the complying with a previous order issued by the Court in this regard. "Considering the nature of the order (of April), we are of the view that the second wave of Covid-19 may not prevent the Director of the Prosecution from complying with the order. The State Government must also respond on an earlier order suggesting imparting the training to the Prosecutors," the Court said on May 26. .Further, the Court observed that the State government could always approach the Karnataka Judicial Academy for conducting online training courses for the prosecutors..The State government was, therefore, granted time till June 9 to comply with the directions of the Court in the previous order. .Give reasons for delay in filing charge sheets for offences under SC/ST Act, conduct regular training for officers: Karnataka HC.The Court was hearing a plea seeking the proper implementation of various provisions of the SC/ST Act and its Rules..Fix outer limit to appoint Chairperson of State SC/ST Commission: Karnataka High Court.In its previous order passed in April, the Court had observed that the best way to tackle delay in investigation and large number of acquittals in matter related to SC/ST cases is by undertaking to arrange regular training for the Investigating Officers and the Special Public Prosecutors appointed under the SC/ST Act."The State Government will place on record necessary details of the training programmes arranged for the Investigating Officers and the Special Public Prosecutors. Perhaps, this will be one step which will ensure that the investigation and cases are conducted in a better fashion," the April order said..The matter will be next heard on June 10.