misused by dishonest board officials to line their own packets. Unless a bribe is paid, an unfavourable report is made to the court. There are other pitfalls. The massive administrative tasks assumed by the court, will sooner or later expose judges to criticism previously directed at administrators. Arbitrariness in passing closure orders without attention to special factors or hearing the affected party, are but a few of the concerns voiced by lawyers. None of this lends to the prestige of the court. Indeed, RECENT research carried out by well known Gujarat activist Martin Macwan suggests that Gujarat stands third in terms of number of cases of dalit atrocities committed per every one lakh dalit population (146.27 crimes per one lakh). The study indicates that within four years (between 1990 and 1994) the increase in the crime-rate (against dalits) has been phenomenal 99.58 percent. (The similar percentage for STs is as high as 251.21 per cent). Though a section of intellectuals as well as police always claim that practice of untouchability has been disappearing and crime-rate against dalits has been declining the reality is different as the above-mentioned findings suggest. The recent incidents at Kadi, in fact, shows that with the advent of BJP raj the dominant higher castes have become more crude and cruel and ready to launch direct assault on dalits.
