Can’t stay provisions of SC/ ST Act, says SC
New Delhi: The new amendments to the SC/ ST law passed by Parliament cannot be stayed at this stage, the Supreme Court said on Friday, as it sought the Centre’s response on a batch of pleas challenging the fresh provisions. The pleas have sought declaration of the new amendments to the Schedule Castes and Schedules Tribes ( Prevention of Atrocities) Act as ultra vires.
Union minister Ramdas Athawale, on Friday, rejected the demand for withdrawal of the amendment in the SC/ ST Act and said that all political parties had supported the amendment in Parliament. Mr Athawale said that the Act cannot be changed now and it was the duty of all castes to support Dalits on this issue. He said that he would soon meet representatives of upper castes and clear any misconceptions they may have.
“There is a need for a better coordination between upper castes and Dalits and this is what Dr Ambedkar also wanted. The apprehensions of upper castes about misuse of the SC/ ST Act are baseless and chances of cases against them over verbal abuse are negligible”, he said. The minister blamed the opposition for triggering violence in BJP- ruled states on the issue. Replying to a question, Mr Athawale who heads the Republican Party of India ( A), said that his party was ready to contest the Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh in alliance with the BJP.