Supreme Court refuses to stay on its verdict on SC/ST Act
New Delhi, Apr 3 (IBNS) : The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a plea to put stay on its March 20 order diluting certain provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, reports said.
The top court, however, put the matter to be heard after 10 days and asked parties to file their written submissions within two days.
While hearing observations by attorney general K K Venugopal on a review petition filed by the Centre, the apex court said: "We are not against the Act. Innocent should not be punished."
The SC on Tuesday said the judgment in no way dilutes any provision of the SC/ST Act or rules and that the Act does not mandate immediate arrest on filing of complaint.
"We have not diluted any provision of SC/ST Act and only safeguarded interest of innocents from being arrested. Provisions of the Act cannot be used to terrorise the innocents," the court said.
The review petion was filed by the Centre on Monday amid a countrywide unrest after several Dalit organisations called a Bharat Bandh in protest against what they alleged dilution of the SC/ST Act.
At least nine people died during the agitation.
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