Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Collector asked to consider rebuilding Dalit houses

MADURAI: The Madras High Court Bench here has directed the Karur Collector to consider a plea made by a group of Dalits to re-build their houses which were allegedly destroyed by some caste Hindus at Kurinji Nagar in Kulithalai taluk.

Disposing of a writ petition, Justice G. Rajasuria said the Collector should decide the issue in light of Serial No. 22 of Annexure I under Rule 12(4) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995. The provision states that the district magistrate, sub-divisional magistrate or executive magistrate shall make arrangements for constructing brick or stone masonry house at the cost of the government, where it has been burnt or destroyed.

In his affidavit, P. Maruthamuthu, 25, one of the victims, said the houses belonging to 30 people of the Scheduled Castes were damaged by the Caste Hindus on July 30 after a quarrel over a temple festival. Counsel for the petitioner, R. Alagumani, engaged by Evidence, a human rights organisation here, said nearly 21 people, including a 10-year-old boy and a 27-year-old mentally challenged youth, were also brutally attacked.

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