Massive Protest in Chennai Against the Dilution of SC/ST Act

On April 24, 30,000 people gathered in Chennai to protest against the dilution of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Supreme Court. Dalit activists claimed that they had planned to march inside the city but were stopped by the police from doing so. The gathering was so huge that the pictures could not cover the whole crowd in one frame. Activists claim that the people covered the area of two to three kilometres. Activists beyond party lines came together for the gathering, demanding the Central government to protect the SC/ST Act by including it in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.

The protest was organized by Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), the Republican Party of India, the Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, the Adhithamizhar Makkal Katchi, the Bahujan Samaj Party and Puratchi Bharatham.

Before this, DMK party leaders in Tamil Nadu protested against the “dilution” of the SC/ST Act on April 16.

Dalits leaders claim that this dilution of POA Act of 1989 would lead to even less protection for Dalits and backward castes. They said that on one hand, the atrocities on Dalits and Adivasis are on the rise and on the other, the Act which provided them with some protection is being diluted.

On March 20, Supreme Court in its judgment said that there should be changes done made in SC/ST Act on three major points. One was that Supreme court had said that the cases under SC/ST Act should have a provision of Anticipatory bail, second was that before booking any government employee under the act the police should first take a permission from senior officials and the third was that only after making sure that the crime has happened can the police register an FIR under the act.

Dalits activists have been claiming that because of these changes the Act would become toothless and even the smallest legal protection which they have would be lost. After the dilution Dalits organisations all over the country have been protesting against this change and on April 2 they gave a call for a countrywide bandh.

Faced with country-wide outrage and protests, the BJP led central Government hastily filed a review petition against the decision of the Supreme Court although it had been a silent spectator for two weeks. But Dalit activists claim that the very decision for the dilution of the act was given because the government gave weak arguments in favour of the Act.

During the protest yesterday, activists said that the Centre should promulgate an ordinance to nullify the recent order of the Supreme Court.

Talking to Newsclick, Barathi Prabu a Dalit activist from Tamil Nadu said “The Central Government because of its Brahmanical attitude has been instrumental is diluting the Act, because if they were really willing they would not have let this happen. We will gather Dalits from all over Tamil Nadu against this dilution and would be protesting and conducting seminars in the coming days.”

Dalit activists and legal experts are demanding the government to include the POA Act 1989 and the POA Amendment Act 2015, in the Ninth Schedule, such that the act would get some protection from the judicial review.