Parliament passes SC/ST amendment bill

New Delhi: The parliament on Thursday passed the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment bill to overturn a Supreme Court (SC) order concerning certain safeguards against arrest under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe law, with the Rajya Sabha unanimously adopting the legislation. The bill, which was passed by a voice vote in the Rajya Sabha, had got the Lok Sabha’s nod on August 6.

The bill rules out any provision for anticipatory bail for a person accused of atrocities against SC/STs, notwithstanding any court order. It provides that no preliminary inquiry will be required for registering a criminal case and an arrest under this law would not be subject to any approval. The legislation also provides that no preliminary enquiry will be
required for registering a criminal case and an arrest under this law would not be subject to any approval.

During the debate, some members were of the view that the government had brought the amendment bill under pressure from the opposition and coalition partners ahead of the proposed nationwide protest later this month to demand restoration of the provisions of the law.

The dalit groups have been asking the government to overturn the SC ruling of March 20, saying it had “diluted” and rendered the law “toothless.”