To protect the marginalised communities against discrimination and atrocities, the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act or the SC/ST Act was introduced in 1989.
The Supreme Court on March 20 expressed concern over misuse of the Act and ruled against the automatic arrest of the booking of accused under the law. Moreover, provision of anticipatory bail was also introduced.
However, the Supreme Court ruled that public servants cannot be indicted without the consent of the appointing authority and citizens too should be arrested only after an inquiry under the law. This created widespread protests across five states and cost 11 lives.
The government later filed the review petition in the matter. However, turning down the government’s appeal to freeze the earlier verdict, the top court said today, “Our aim is to protect innocents, we have not diluted the law in any manner.”
Here’s All You Need To Know About SC/ST Act:
1. The Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act is commonly recognized as POA, the SC/ST Act, the Prevention of Atrocities Act, or simply the Atrocities Act. The SC/ST Act was enacted on September 9, 1989. The rules for the Act were notified on March 31, 1995.
2. The SC/ST Act lists 22 offences relating to various patterns or behaviours inflicting criminal offences and breaking the self-respect and esteem of the scheduled castes and tribes community. This includes denial of economic, democratic and social rights, discrimination, exploitation and abuse of the legal process.
3. As per the SC/ST Act, the protection is granted from social disabilities like the refusal of admittance to certain places and to use customary passage, personal atrocities like forceful drinking or eating of inedible food sexual exploitation, injury etc, atrocities affecting properties, malicious prosecution, political disabilities and economic exploitation.
4. For a speedy trial, Section 14 of the SC/ST Act provides for a Court of Session to be a Special Court to try offences under this Act in each district.
5. The prime objective of the SC/ST Act is to deliver justice to marginalised through proactive efforts, giving them a life of dignity, self-esteem and a life without fear, violence or suppression from the dominant castes.