Supreme Court Rejects Plea Challenging SC/ST Act Provisions
· India · India Today, Hindustan Times
The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a public interest litigation challenging the constitutional validity of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant ruled that sufficient legal safeguards already exist to prevent the misuse of the statute. The petition, filed by Brijbhushan Saini, had alleged that the law violated fundamental rights under Articles 14, 21, and 22 of the Constitution. The court declined to reconsider its previous judgment, which had upheld the 2018 amendment that removed requirements for preliminary inquiries and prior arrest approvals. The petitioner had argued that the law's stringent provisions encouraged malicious prosecution and created societal divisions.
Why it matters
The ruling maintains the current legal framework for the SC/ST Act, ensuring that existing provisions regarding non-bailable arrests and specific judicial procedures remain in effect for cases involving atrocities against marginalized communities.
Read the original report — India Today
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