Caste Based Violence: Sexual Atrocities against Dalit Women

According to a report by Human Rights Watch, inhuman and degrading treatment of over 165 million people in India has been justified on the basis of caste. Casteism is indeed an inherent and integral part in the structure of Indian society, and that barbarous violence has also been existing along with the caste system. Caste based violence, thus has been predominant throughout the history of India, from the colonial era to even today, at an astonishing rate, ranging from rape, brutal murder, sexual assault, honor killing and other heinous crimes. It is also a factual note that women are a major victim of such brutality and the crime rates against women done on the basis of caste is shockingly alarming even in 2021, though the system of caste had evolved a long way of progressiveness from the era of untouchability. Along with this, what is to be considered is the legal provisions and Acts that provide protection from caste-based atrocities and how far are they implemented and serving in its purpose. This paper attempts to critically analyze these matters with emphasis on the socio-legal aspect of a heinous caste-based violence combined with gender, the issue of Sexual Atrocities Against Dalit Women. Along with analyzing how predominant is the caste system and its related cruelties even today and to what extend does it affects the lives of women and how far are they prosecuted, it also aims to critically evaluate the remains of the caste system that are distinctly visible in the legal system and how it affects in providing justice to the Dalit women of the land.