Supreme Court Agrees To Hear Centre’s Review Petition On SC/ST Act, Hearing Likely Next Week

Supreme Court (SC) today agreed to hear Centre’s review petition on its March 20 order on SC/ST Act, in which the court had put an end to immediate arrests in complaints filed under the Act.

According to a Times Now report, the review petition may be heared next week. The Court has asked the Additional Solicitor General to assist in filing.

The government had come under attack from Opposition demanding a review or bring an amendment to undo the Supreme Court’s ruling.

In its order on March 20, the Apex Court had banned automatic arrests and registration of criminal cases under the Act. The ruling emphasised on holding a preliminary inquiry before taking any criminal action in this regard. The judgement had underlined the misuse of certain provisions of the Act for “vested interests”.

Dalit groups had organised massive Bharat Bandh across the country on April 2 against the alleged dilution of the Act. The protests had turned violent at several places which left several people dead.