Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddharamaiah on Tuesday directed the Social Welfare Department to take measures to establish seven more Special Courts for quicker disposal of cases related to atrocities against dalits.

Chairing a high-level vigilance committee meeting under SC&ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, he asked Social Welfare Minister H. Anjaneya to hold a meeting with Karnataka High Court Registrar on setting up new Special Courts at the earliest, which are likely to come up in Haveri, Koppal, Davanagere, Dharwad, Udupi, Chitradurga and Chamarajanagar districts.

Instructing the Deputy Commissioners of all districts to ensure that dalits get entry into all temples and they get haircut without much hassle, Siddharamaiah also directed to take steps for increasing the conviction rate of cases filed under the Act.