NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    More
    In the news
    Narendra Modi
    Amit Shah
    Box Office Collection
    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
    OTT releases
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    NewsBytes
    User Placeholder

    Hi,

    Logout

    India
    Business
    World
    Politics
    Sports
    Technology
    Entertainment
    Auto
    Lifestyle
    Inspirational
    Career
    Bengaluru
    Delhi
    Mumbai

    Download Android App

    Follow us on
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
    Home / News / India News / Arrest shouldn't be so easy: Supreme Court on SC/ST Act
    Next Article
    Arrest shouldn't be so easy: Supreme Court on SC/ST Act

    Arrest shouldn't be so easy: Supreme Court on SC/ST Act

    By Gogona Saikia
    Edited by Krunali Shah
    May 04, 2018
    09:30 am

    What's the story

    The Supreme Court (SC) has again refused to stay its ruling on the SC/ST Act, which, according to the Center, violated the powers of the legislature as guaranteed by the Constitution.

    Attorney General KK Venugopal argued that by changing the basic conditions for arrest in such cases, the SC had "stepped into the legislative domain."

    "The judgment has completely shaken the country," he said.

    SC order

    What was the court's order regarding the SC/ST act?

    On March 20, the SC barred registration of cases and automatic arrest in alleged cases of harassment of SCs and STs under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act) 1989.

    Arrest of government servants would need prior sanction, and private citizens can only be arrested after the inquiry.

    The purpose, it said, was to protect honest public servants from being blackmailed with false cases.

    Reax

    How did the public react?

    Dalit groups, who alleged the "dilution" of the Act will increase caste-based violence, protested in different states.

    They clashed with the police, attacked buses and government property, and blockaded trains and roads in states like MP, UP, and Rajasthan. The intense agitation left eight dead, the Center says.

    They also called for a nationwide shutdown on this issue on April 2.

    Petition

    Center files review petition against order that 'hurts Dalits' dignity'

    Subsequently, the BJP filed a review petition in the SC. It argued the order deprives Dalits/Adivasis of a dignified life as promised under the Constitution

    The court refused to stay its previous order, or to hear it on urgently, adding there were vested interests involved; those protesting might not even have read the judgment, it said.

    However, it said it will reconsider the matter.

    Center

    'Dilution of arrest provision amounts to protecting the accused': Center

    Continuing the Centers' arguments on the matter, Venugopal said, "Those who have been oppressed for thousands of years have a feeling that dilution of the arrest provision in the SC/ST Act amounted to protecting the accused."

    "Rightly or wrongly, people are so agitated that it led to eight deaths."

    The order had caused "great damage" to the country, the Center submitted.

    SC

    'We haven't changed provisions of the law at all': SC

    The SC denied it had violated the Act. "We never suggested the guilty should go scot-free. We have clarified if there's any violent act by the accused, the police can straightaway arrest without a preliminary enquiry or taking sanction from a higher authority."

    "We never suggested any particular line of action. What we said was protect the innocent from harassment through a frivolous complaint."

    Information

    Hearing to continue on May 16

    The SC also questioned the absence of provision for anticipatory bail. "What does the legislature seek to achieve? Does it want to instil the fear of arrest or something else? Arrest shouldn't be so easy," it said. The matter will be heard next on May 16.

    Facebook
    Whatsapp
    Twitter
    Linkedin
    Related News
    Latest
    Supreme Court Of India
    Dalit
    KK Venugopal

    Latest

    White smoke emerges above Sistine Chapel as new pope elected   Pope Francis
    India shoots down Pakistan's F-16 fighter jet amid Jammu attacks  Jammu
    IPL: PBKS-DC match called off in Dharamsala amid Pakistan attack  Indian Premier League (IPL)
    How India banked on Rohit-Kohli pair in Test cricket Rohit Sharma

    Supreme Court Of India

    SC reserves verdict on Sidhu's plea in 1988 road-rage case Punjab
    'Judge Loya died of natural causes': SC refuses independent probe India
    Commercial driving licenses not required for driving taxis, autos India
    SC can remove suspicions on Loya's death by direct-dealing: Congress India

    Dalit

    Sanand's Dalits change their display picture to a moustache! Why? WhatsApp
    Did the 'attack' that triggered Dalit 'moustache' protest actually happen? Gujarat
    Gujarat Elections: How has caste emerged as a key factor? Narendra Modi
    Jignesh Mevani: Ex-journalist, lawyer, fire-brand Dalit leader to contest independently Gujarat

    KK Venugopal

    'Don't need to stand up in theatres to be patriotic' India
    Attorney General: Unity among SC judges will return India
    SC rift 'settled'? No rebel judge to hear key cases India
    Open to extending Aadhaar linking deadline: Center Supreme Court Of India
    Indian Premier League (IPL) Celebrity Hollywood Bollywood UEFA Champions League Tennis Football Smartphones Cryptocurrency Upcoming Movies Premier League Cricket News Latest automobiles Latest Cars Upcoming Cars Latest Bikes Upcoming Tablets
    About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive Download DevBytes Find Cricket Statistics
    Follow us on
    Facebook Twitter Linkedin
    All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2025