Highlights
- The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay the recent amendments to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
- The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2018, restored the legislative intent of the original Act, which barred anticipatory bail to a person accused of insulting or hurting a Dalit.
- The amendments were meant to nullify the effect of the March 20 judgment of the court that removed the bar on accused persons seeking anticipatory bail.
- The ruling led to widespread protests and loss of lives.
- Admitting the petitions challenging the amendments, a Bench led by Justice A.K. Sikri directed the government to reply to the allegations that the amendments were meant to appease the Dalits ahead of the 2019 general election.
Comments (0)