What is the SC/ST Act?
The Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted to prevent atrocities against scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. The Act is popularly known as POA, the SC/ST Act, the Prevention of Atrocities Act, or simply the Atrocities Act. Article 17 of Indian Constitution seeks to abolish ‘untouchability’ and to forbid all such practices. It is basically a “statement of principle” that needs to be made operational with the ostensible objective to remove humiliation and multifaceted harassments meted to the Dalit community and to ensure their fundamental and socio-economic, political, and cultural rights.
Why The Rage And Bharat Bandh?
On 2nd April, the NDA government filed a petition seeking insight to the review of the Supreme Court order diluting the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Widespread criticism and rage was triggered when the Supreme Court banned automatic arrests under the SC/ST Act. The court said no citizen would be prosecuted without an enquiry under the law. This prevented public servants from being blackmailed with false cases and accusations under the law.
What the Dalit organisations and community fear is that this dilution of the Act might lead to increase in violence and atrocities against the Dalits. The Congress party, which has urged the Centre to file a review petition, will organise a demonstration tomorrow, April 4 at the Parliament Street against the verdict and the atrocities committed against Dalits in different parts of the country.