AMN / NEW DELHI
Amid protests by Dalits in different states, the government today filed a review petition in the Supreme Court over its recent ruling on the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that government is committed to the progress of Dalits. He said the opposition is politicising the issue.
In its order, the apex court had recently introduced the provision of anticipatory bail in the Act while directing that there will be no automatic arrest on any complaint filed under the law.
The Centre pleaded for a modification of apex court’s earlier judgement that a state government official cannot be automatically arrested on a complaint filed under the Act & sanction of appointing authority is must before taking such action against a public servant.
A public servant can be arrested after grant of approval by the superior officer. In case of registration of any offence, the DSP shall conduct a preliminary inquiry, the bench said.
A division bench of the Apex Court headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel had passed the judgement on March 20.
The Top Court had appointed Amarendra Saran, senior Supreme Court lawyer as the Amicus Curiae (Friend of the court) to assist in the matter.