1992 Vachathi Crimes: Madras High Court Upholds Convictions Of Police, Forest And Revenue Officials, Orders 10 Lakh Compensation For Rape Victims

The Madras High Court on Friday (September 29) dismissed the appeals preferred by 126 forest officials, 84 police personnel and 5 revenue officials against their convictions and sentence for various crimes that took place in Vachathi, in Dharmapuri District of Tamil Nadu. Coincidentally, the Sessions Court judgment finding the accused guilty was also passed on September 29 in the year 2011. Justice P Velmurugan called for stringent action against the then District Collector, District Forest Officer, and the Superintendent of Police.The bench also directed the state to pay compensation of Rs. 10 lakh each to the rape victims, of which 50% was to be recovered from the accused who were convicted for the offence of rape. The court also directed the state to give suitable employment to the victims whose houses were destroyed by the officials. “All the criminal appeals are dismissed as devoid of merits and substance…The Government is directed to pay 10 Lakh compensation to each of the victims (of rape). If the victim is not alive, compensation shall be paid to the relatives. 50% of the compensation amount is to be recovered from the accused who have been accused of rape. Government to provide suitable jobs either by self employment or through any other means to the victims. Stringent action shall be taken against the then District Collector, Superintendent of Police and the District Forest Officer,” the judge said while pronouncing the judgment on Friday.The judge had previously decided to visit the village and talk to the villagers before pronouncing the judgments. Since many of the accused had died during the pendency of the trial, the charges against them had been abated.BackgroundOn June 20 1992, a team of 155 forest personnel, 108 policemen, and six revenue officials entered the Tribal dominated village of Vachathi searching for smuggled sandalwood and gathering information about Veerappan, the infamous Indian bandit turned domestic terrorist. Under the pretext of search, it was alleged that the officials ransacked the villager’s property, destroyed houses, killed cattle, assaulted villagers, and even committed rape on the village women.Though the CPI(M) had initially filed a Public Interest Litigation before the Madras High Court to take up the case, the court dismissed the same observing that government officials would not have indulged in such conduct. Thereafter, CPI(M) State secretary A Nallasivan filed a petition before the Supreme Court which directed the High Court to hear the matter as early as possible.The High Court later ordered a CBI inquiry into the case. Out of the total 269 persons accused in the case, 54 died during the trial. Out of the remaining 126 forest personnel, 84 policemen and 5 revenue officials were convicted.Though an appeal was preferred by the State against CBI enquiry, the same was dismissed by a division bench of the High Court. The High Court had also quashed the charge sheet filed against the villagers for supposed “smuggling”.

1992 Vachathi Crimes: Madras High Court Upholds Convictions Of Police, Forest And Revenue Officials, Orders 10 Lakh Compensation For Rape Victims

Upasana Sajeev

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