SC refuses to stay order on SC/ST Atrocities Act

The Supreme Court while refusing to stay its order on the SC/ST atrocities act said that it was in favour of protecting the rights of these people and those guilty of committing atrocities shall be punished. The court has posted the review plea filed by the Centre on May 16.

The court had barred the automatic arrest of persons under the Act which triggered a protest across the country. The Centre rushed to the court seeking review of its order. The Centre contended that the order had led to the loss of lives in several states where violence broke out.

The Centre had sought a stay on the verdict, but the court refused to grant one. The Bench comprising Justices Adarsh Goel and U U Lalit said that various judgments were taken into consideration before the order was passed.

It's not that the judgement says there shall be no registration of crime. It's not that accused shall not be arrested. The safeguards were for the purpose that a person should not be readily arrested or an innocent punished because there was no provision of anticipatory bail under the SC/ST Act," the Bench said.

The court also clarified that it had not sought for the non-registration of an FIR under the SC/ST Act. We had only sought verification before the FIR was registered so that no innocent person is penalised, the Bench also clarified.