The Lok Sabha passed an Amendment Bill meant to overturn Supreme Court order on the SC/ST Atrocities Act.
Supreme Court ordered Preliminary inquiry has to be conducted by a Police Officer before filing criminal case and arresting anyone under SC/ST Act. The Apex Court passed this order after taking into consideration that nearly 12 percent cases under SC/ST Act were misused.
The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill 2018 restores the original SC/ST Act. Which means, Preliminary inquiry isn't needed to file criminal case and arrest anyone under SC/ST Act. It also rules out the possibility of obtaining anticipatory bail for an individual facing such a case.
Centre wishes to reach out to Dalits by nullifying the impact of the Supreme Court. Rest of the parties in the Parliament favoured the amendments to help the bill pass unanimously.
Supreme Court ordered Preliminary inquiry has to be conducted by a Police Officer before filing criminal case and arresting anyone under SC/ST Act. The Apex Court passed this order after taking into consideration that nearly 12 percent cases under SC/ST Act were misused.
The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill 2018 restores the original SC/ST Act. Which means, Preliminary inquiry isn't needed to file criminal case and arrest anyone under SC/ST Act. It also rules out the possibility of obtaining anticipatory bail for an individual facing such a case.
Centre wishes to reach out to Dalits by nullifying the impact of the Supreme Court. Rest of the parties in the Parliament favoured the amendments to help the bill pass unanimously.