Curfew has been imposed in Madhya Pradesh in the wake of violence witnessed by the state on April 2 during Bharat Bandh
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to put in abeyance its judgment banning automatic arrests without prior permissions for offences under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, saying its March 20 order only meant to safeguard innocent people without affecting the rights of the marginalised communities.
The court, however, said it would consider the arguments against its judgment from all parties involved at the next hearing that will be scheduled sometime after 10 days.
Meanwhile, curfew has been imposed in various areas of Gwalior, Bhind and Morena districts of Madhya Pradesh in the wake of violence witnessed by the state on April 2 during Bharat Bandh.The curfew, though, would be relaxed for two hours between 10 am and 12 noon, according to the police. As many as 5,000 people have been booked for creating ruckus and damaging public and government properties during protests against "dilution" of the provisions of the SC-ST Act in Uttar Pradesh.
Senior Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Krishna said police had lodged reports against 5,000 unidentified and 285 named miscreants under various sections the IPC.
Till now 32 agitators have been arrested and raids are being conducted to arrest others.
The Supreme Court had on March 20 banned automatic arrests and registration of criminal cases under the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
Ruling that no arrest could be made under the Act without prior permission, the apex court had also held that a court could grant anticipatory bail if it, prima facie, found the complaint was an abuse of the law, false, motivated and intended to blackmail or harass a person.
Here are the top developments around the so-called dilution of the Act and the Bharat bandh called by Dalit organisations across the country:
1. Former Bihar minister and Dalit leader Ramai Ram on Wednesday threatened to raise the demand of "Harijanistan" (Dalit land). "Constitutional rights of Dalits are being snatched from them and their dignity and honour hurted. Dalits cannot live in the country as a second-class citizen. We will demand Harijanistan," Ram said.
Ram, who is a senior leader of JD-U faction led by Sharad Yadav, said that nine Dalits killed in police firing in the country during the protest against the dilution of SC/ST Atrocities Act should be declared martyr.
He said Dalit icon B. R. Ambedkar also demanded Harijanistan for development of Dalits after India got independent and a separate Pakistan was created "but then top leaders of the country provided special rights to Dalits in place of Harijanistan. Now special rights for Dalits in the constitution are under threat and Dalits are being discriminated everywhere. It will not work anymore," he said.
2. SC refuses to stay ST/SC Act order: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay its order on Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) Act. The court was hearing Central Government's review petition on Schedule Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The apex court also asked all parties to submit detailed replies within two days. The matter will be heard after 10 days.
High alert has been issued in 35 districts across Madhya Pradesh in view of the ongoing Bharat Bandh against the Parliament passing an amendment to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act that overruled Supreme Court’s earlier order of diluting it. Apart from that, 34 companies of security forces and 5,000 security personnel have been deployed. Section 144 has also imposed in several districts across Madhya Pradesh, according to ANI reports.
Police told ANI, ”Forces have been divided judiciously across the districts. It has been peaceful till now. Nobody can force anyone to be a part of the bandh.”
Earlier, the members, belonging to upper caste groups, had forced the government to impose Section 144 in Satna, Bhind, Shivpuri, Gwalior, and other districts.
Bharat Bandh | The March 20 judgment
In a bid to check the misuse of the SC/ST Act, the Supreme Court had on March 20 ruled that preliminary enquiry in a case under the Atrocities Act would be done by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) to ensure the allegations are not frivolous, and to avoid the false implication of an innocent person.
The court also held that a government official could not be prosecuted on the mere allegation of committing an offence under the Act without the sanction of the appointing authority.
Here are the top developments of the ongoing protest:
1. Schools and petrol pumps will remain shut today in Gwalior and across districts.
2. Markets are now closed, protesters stop a train in Arrah in Bihar
3. Members taking part in the protest also stop a train in Darbhanga and Munger’s Masudan, Bihar.
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