SC/ST Act: Supreme Court decline to put stay on its March 20 verdict, will hear case after 10 days

In a major development in the Dalit protests, the top court today refused to put stay on its March 20 verdict over the 'dilution' of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. In the judgement, the Supreme Court ruled that the anticipatory bail should be granted by the courts unless there was a prima facie case against the accused under the Act.

Declining the stay, SC said it is not against the Act, but only concerned that innocents should not be punished unilaterally due to misuse of the Act.

Also read: Bharat Bandh protests: Supreme Court agrees to open-hearing on Centre's plea to stay ruling on SC/ST

While hearing the urgent review petition of BJP-led Narendra Modi government's the apex court said, there should not be any politics on the issue and asked all the parties to submit detailed replies within two days. The Court put the matter to be heard after 10 days.

"We know how to protect the rights of the citizens and have not touched the probe or punishment sections of the Act. So why does govt want people arrested without verification," the apex court asked.

Earlier on the day, observing the intense situation occurred across the country due to the Dalit's protests against its judgement, the top court agreed to open-court to hear the urgent review plea after the Attorney General KK Venugopal referred to large-scale violence and loss of lives, public properties on Monday during Bharat Bandh.

The AG said it is an emergency situation as large-scale violence has taken place and sought urgent hearing of the review petition today itself.

Earlier, on Monday, the Centre moved to the top court seeking to review the judgement on the SC/ST Act. However, the SC rejected the Centre's plea on urgent hearing on a writ petition filed by the All India Federation of SC/ST Organisations against the verdict.

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