SC/ST Act hearing updates: Death toll in Dalit protests reaches 11; fresh clashes, counter protests reported from Rajasthan

Two Madhya Pradesh policemen booked over death of Bhind protester

Madhya Pradesh  police registered an FIR  against two of its officers in connection with the death of a man during the Bharat Bandh protests. The victim, Mahavir Rajawat, died during Monday’s protests in Bhind. Pathak had suffered bullet wounds during the protests in Morena when he was passing through the area during the Bharat Bandh.

Police action during Monday’s protests lead to the death of seven people in Madhya Pradesh, officials said on Tuesday.

Death toll in violent Dalit protests reaches 11 as fresh violence breaks out in Rajasthan

Fresh violence broke out in Rajasthan today as a 5,000-strong mob set ablaze the houses of a sitting and a former MLA, both Dalits, even as the death toll from yesterday’s nationwide stir by Dalit groups rose to 11 with two more persons succumbing to their injuries in Madhya Pradesh.

Normal life was thrown out of gear in more than 10 states, most of them BJP-ruled, with widespread violence during the protests called by Dalit organisations yesterday with poll-bound Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan bearing the maximum brunt.

Counter-protests were reported today from Rajasthan, where traders’ groups and members of other castes hit the streets over the damage caused yesterday.

Police Sub-Inspector Mahendra Choudhary, who was injured in Jodhpur on Monday, dies

#BREAKING - #DalitProtests: Police Sub-Inspector Mahendra Choudhary has died. He was injured during the violence in Jodhpur yesterday. Choudhary was posted in Udaimandir Police pic.twitter.com/yU52q75wDl

— News18 (@CNNnews18) April 3, 2018

Case registered against Raja Chauhan, who was seen firing during Monday’s ’s protests in Gwalior

Gwalior: Case registered against Raja Chauhan, who was seen firing during yesterday's protests. #SC_ST_Act #MadhyaPradesh pic.twitter.com/SXheCOkGFV

— ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2018

NDA government has actually strengthened SC/ST Act: Amit Shah

Amit Shah on Tuesday said a “microscopic minority of dejected and rejected political parties” made the people suffer and sought their apology to “Dalit sisters and brothers.

In a series of tweets, Shah reached out to the community, which has been protesting a Supreme Court order on a law on atrocities against it. 

He also blamed “vested interest groups” for spreading the panic on the issue of reservation for Dalits, saying it is done before every election and asserted that the government will do everything to protect their rights. 

Through the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2015 the NDA Government has actually strengthened the provisions of the Act. This was done in line with our commitment to the welfare of SC & ST communities. https://t.co/2LCmNeMOoP

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 3, 2018

Never thought it will become political issue, says original complainant in SC/ST matter

Bhaskar Gaikwad , the original complainant in the SC/ST case over which a nationwide bandh was organised on Monday, had never thought that his legal fight would attain such a huge political connotation.

The 53-year employee of a government college in Pune said that irrespective of the central government’s move, he was planning to file by 19 April a review petition in the Supreme Court against its March 20 order which is seen as diluting the SC/ST Act.

He refused to comment on the political connotation that the issue has acquired.

Mallikarjun Kharge demands amendment in SC/ST (PoA) Act 

Congressman and prominent Dalit leader Mallikarjun Kharge said “We were expecting this. This government should go for amendment.” The Congress party also blamed the government for its anti-Dalit policies, saying that the protests were a manifestation built up anger over the failure of BJP government.

47,000 cases of crime against SC/ST registered in 2016, but data shows markedly low conviction rate: Government in LS

As many as 47,338 cases of crime against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were registered across the country in 2016, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said as per the information provided by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a total of 40,774 cases were registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and other sections of law over alleged crimes against SCs and STs in the year 2016.

Of these,  charge-sheets were filed in 78.3 per cent cases, and the conviction rate was 25.8 per cent, he said in reply to a written question.

As many as 6,564 cases were registered over alleged crimes against the Scheduled Tribes in 2016, in which charge-sheets were filed in 81.3 percent cases where the conviction rate was 20.8 per cent, the minister said.

What the Supreme Court said in today’s hearing?

Supreme Court said that people who are agitating have not read the judgment properly and have been misled by vested interests. The bench also said it has not diluted any provision of SC/ST Act and only safeguarded the interest of innocents from being arrested. However, the provisions of the Act cannot be used to terrorise the innocents, it said.

The top court has listed the Centre’s review petition after 10 days for detailed hearing and asked the Maharashtra government and others to file written submissions by then.

The union government, in its review petition, said the March 20 verdict has “wide ramification and implication resulting in dilution of the stringent provisions of law enacted under the 1989 enactment. It adversely affects a substantial portion of the population of India being the members of SC/ST. It is also contrary to the legislative policy of Parliament as reflected in the Prevention Of Atrocities Act 1989”.

SC says intent behind judgment only to ensure innocents are not punished under stringent non-bailable act

The Supreme Court said that its earlier judgment is not in any way prejudiced against the people from the SC/ST community. It said that the judgment’s sole intent was to ensure that innocent people do not suffer unnecessarily under the provisions of stringent SC/ST (PoA) Act which immediately makes a charge a non-bailable offense.

SC will hear petition after 10 days 

Supreme Court asked the lawyers in the case, including the Attorney General, to file a written submission and it will hear the case after 10 days.

Supreme Court judgment on SC/ST (PoA) Act won’t affect other offenses

The Supreme Court said that the question of a preliminary inquiry before an FIR or a prior permission for arrest of a public servant comes up only when the charges are framed solely under the SC/ST (PoA) Act. The court said its order neither dilutes the provisions of the said act, or affects any other offenses charged under other sections of IPC or CrPC.

No stay on SC/ST Act, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has refused to stay its 20 March order on SC/ST Act, and has asked all parties to submit detailed replies within two days. The matter will be heard after 10 days.

Supreme Court declines to stay its verdict on SC/ST (PoA) act

The Supreme Court refused to stay its earlier verdict on the SC/ST (PoA) Act saying that they were not against the Act but the way it was being implemented. The court also noted that many of the protesters may not have even read the complete judgement. 

The court said that the compensation to victims will not have to wait for the lodging of an FIR.

Bharat Bandh: We will probe violence and submit report to Centre, says SC/ST National Commission charperson

“There has been violence and people have died. Those responsible are people who’ve been rejected by Dalits, whether it is Congress or BSP. We will do an inquiry and give report to the government. Action will be taken against culprits,”  ANI quoted SC/ST National Commission chairman RS Katheria as saying.

Innocents should not be punished, observes Supreme Court

The Supreme Court, while hearing the submissions by Attorney-General K K Venugopal, observed, ‘we are not against the Act. Innocent should not be punished.’

SC/ ST Protection Act case: Supreme Court, while hearing the submissions by the Attorney General, observed, 'we are not against the Act. Innocent should not be punished.'

— ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2018

BJP stands shoulder to shoulder with the Dalit community, says Amit Shah

In a series of tweets, BJP chief Amit Shah backed the Narendra Modi government over its stand on the rights of the Dalits and backward classes. “Modi Government’s commitment to fulfilling Babasaheb Ambedkar’s vision is unwavering. All the efforts of the Government are aimed at transforming the lives of Dalits.”

Shah said that the NDA government has actually strengthened the provisions of the Act.

At every juncture and in all possible ways, @BJP4India stands shoulder to shoulder with the Dalit community. Modi Government’s commitment to fulfilling Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s vision is unwavering. All the efforts of the Government are aimed at transforming the lives of Dalits.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 3, 2018

PM @narendramodi met MPs belonging to the SC communities and assured them that the Government is doing everything to protect the rights and wellbeing of our Dalit sisters and brothers.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 3, 2018

Through the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2015 the NDA Government has actually strengthened the provisions of the Act. This was done in line with our commitment to the welfare of SC & ST communities. https://t.co/2LCmNeMOoP

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 3, 2018

Centre has not diluted SC/ST Act, says Rajnath Singh

Amid noisy protests in the Lok Sabha, Home Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the violence that singed large parts of the country on Monday.

“The government has not diluted the provisions of the SC/ST Atrocities Act. In fact, we have strengthened the act. We have introduced provisions for the protection of victims, who are already suffered enough. Moreover, if officials are found lacking in their response to a complaint filed by anybody, we want action initiated against them as well,” Rajnath Singh said.

About Centre’s review plea against SC ruling on SC/ST Act

The Centre had formally filed its review petition on Monday in the Supreme Court against the apex court’s ruling which sought a review of the recent judgment by which safeguards were put on arrests under the act. The ruling government, in the plea, sought restoration of the SC/ST Act provisions that made certain offences cognisable and non-bailable.

The government, in its review petition, told the Supreme Court that its 20 March verdict will violate Article 21 of the Constitution for the SC/ST communities and sought restoration of the provisions of the SC/ST Act.

Ahead of SC hearing, Keshar Prasad Maurya slams Mayawati for backing protests over dilution of SC/ST verdict

Asserting that the government has filed review petition in the Supreme Court, Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya asked the basis of BSP chief Mayawati’s protest before the top court’s verdict was out. “Why does she want to promote anarchy in Uttar Pradesh?” ANI quoted Maurya as saying.

On Monday, Mayawati had extended support to the protest against the dilution of the SC/ST Act by the Supreme Court.