Supreme Court agrees to hear Centre's review petition on SC/ST Act, hearing likely next week

Supreme Court (SC) today agrees to hear Centre's review petition on its March 20 order on SC/ST Act, in which the court had put an end to immediate arrests in complaints filed under the Act.

The government had come under attack from Opposition demanding a review or bring an amendment to undo the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Opposition parties also accused the government of failing to protect Dalit rights.


In its order on March 20, the Apex Court had banned automatic arrests and registration of criminal cases under the Act. The ruling emphasised on holding a preliminary inquiry before taking any criminal action in this regard. The judgement had underlined the misuse of certain provisions of the Act for “vested interests”.

Dalit groups had organised massive Bharat Bandh across the country on April 2 against the alleged dilution of the Act. The protests had turned violent at several places which left several people dead.