New Delhi, April 2: The ugly protest by Several Dalit organizations across the country calling for ‘Bharat Bandh’ has shaken Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi and Jharkhand. In this regard, Ministry of Home Affairs has appealed all the states to maintain law and order. And also the Union Government has assured to give assistance to them.
In an official tweet of the Home Affairs Ministry, Rajnath Singh Minister of Home Affairs said, “I appeal to all political parties to help in maintaining harmony among different sections of the society. I also appeal to the people, not to fall prey to rumours and false propaganda unleashed by mischievous elements.”
And also the Minister said, “The Govt. of India is committed to ensuring the welfare of SC/STs and other weaker sections and also guaranteeing them full protection of the law. The Govt. has already filed a review petition in the Supreme Court to maintain the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act in its presents form.”
Several Dalit organizations started protesting against dilution of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act that turned ugly which killed 4 people while many others were injured.
Hundreds of protesters carrying swords, sticks, baseball bats and flags forced shopkeepers and other establishments in Punjab’s Jalandhar, Amritsar and Bathinda to shut down after which curfew was imposed. Similar protests have been reported from Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, and Jharkhand.
BACKGROUND:
The Supreme Court on March 20 diluted the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, in a bid to protect honest public servants discharging bona fide duties from being blackmailed with false cases under the Act.
Taking note of the misuse of the stringent Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against government servants, the apex court said that a preliminary probe by an officer not below the rank of deputy superintendent is a must before arresting a public servant.
The judgment stated, “no arrest may be affected if an accused person is a public servant, without the written permission of the appointing authority and if such a person is not a public servant, without the written permission of the Senior Superintendent of Police of the District.”