Bring law to battle court ruling on Act: SC/ST panel's former head P L Punia

NEW DELHI: Congress leader and former head of National Commission for Scheduled Castes, P L Punia said the Narendra Modi government’s review petition in the Supreme Court on the SC (Prevention of Atrocities) Act would not be of much consequence.

He suggested that if the BJP-led dispensation is really concerned about Dalits then it should move a legislation in Parliament on the issue.

“A review petition goes to the same bench of the Supreme Court which had given the judgement. Even if a curative petition is filed, the same judges will be there and two more will be added to the bench. If the government is serious about Dalit rights then it should bring a Bill (to overcome the SC judgement). BJP has a majority in Lok Sabha and the Opposition will support the Bill in the Rajya Sabha,” Punia told ET.


He held the Modi government responsible for the SC judgement on the misuse of the Act and maintained the apex court took the decision on the basis of arguments put forth by the Additional Solicitor General.

“ASG Maninder Singh told the Supreme Court that in 70% of the cases filed under the Act, the accused is acquitted and so these cases are fake and motivated. The truth is that our (Dalits) complaints are not lodged in most instances, there are loopholes in the charge-sheet filed and there is a long delay in delivery of judgement,” Punia said. He said across India only 20% cases of Dalit atrocities get lodged and the culprits are punished in only 2-3% cases.