Govt to bring law to overturn SC verdict on SC/ST Act

Fearing strong opposition from dalit community after a Supreme Court order “diluted” the provisions of the SC/ST Act, the government on Wednesday decided to bring a fresh legislation in parliament to overturn the court decision.

The decision comes after several parties like the Republican Party of India and many of the NDA allies like the Lok Janshakti Party publicly expressed their resentment. All these political parties are under pressure from the dailt groups who had called for a 'Bharat bandh' on August 9.

The Supreme Court in a March 20 ruling had barred immediate arrests in cases registered under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said as the parliament was in session, he would not talk about the bill. He added that the government would do everything for the dailts. A bill would be brought "shortly" to parliament, said Prasad.

By bringing the bill, the government hopes to address the rising anger among the dailts over the Supreme Court judgment. There were also demands to remove justice A.K. Goyal who gave the judgment, and now has been made the head of the National Green Tribunal.

As the current session of the parliament is facing increasing disruptions over the NRC in Assam, the government hopes the new bill will force the opposition to soften their stance. Earlier on Wednesday, BJP chief Amit Shah was not allowed to speak inside Rajya Sabha on NRC issue for the second day in row.

Prasad criticised the opposition saying it hit a new low inside the house.

In a separate press conference at BJP headquarters, HRD minister Prakash Javdekar said:  "Congress and TMC intentionally disrupted the parliament proceedings. Why Congress and TMC did not let BJP chief Amit Shah and home minister Rajnath Singh speak in the parliament?  What is Congress' stand on NRC and intruders?"