Bill to undo SC Act ruling

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 1

Bowing to pressure from allies and its own Dalit MPs in the election year, the BJP-led government on Wednesday approved amendments to the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, to restore its status as it was prior to the March 20 Supreme Court ruling, under which safeguards were introduced, including anticipatory bail, to check “abuse” of the Act.

However, Dalit groups who have given a call for a “Bharat bandh” on August 9 said they will go ahead with it till the time the government agrees to all their demands.

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The amended Bill will be tabled in the ongoing session of Parliament, two Union ministers confirmed, including LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan, who has been at the forefront of the demand for reversal of “dilution” of the law by the apex court.

The development follows the violent April 2 protests and mounting pressure from several quarters. Several ruling party MPs belonging to Dalit and tribal communities, including BJP’s Udit Raj, had flagged concern on the issue. With less than a year to go for the Lok Sabha elections, the ruling BJP had little option but to agree. 

However, All India Ambedkar Mahasabha leader Ashok Bharti, who welcomed restoration of the Act, said the bandh call stands unless retired Justice AK Goel is removed as NGT chairman and cases registered post April 2 violence are withdrawn.

Apex court verdict

SC held on March 20 that before registering FIRs in SC/ST Act cases, preliminary inquiry will be held by DSP-level officer and prior permission of an officer of the level of SP will be required before arresting the accused