[Marxistindia] On Supreme Court Judgement on POA

[news from the cpi(m)]

March 23, 2018

Press Statement


The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the
following statement:

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses
concern about the judgement delivered by the Supreme Court that has
diluted the provisions of the Prevention of Atrocities (SC/ST) Act.

The judgement delivered by a bench of Justice U.U. Lalit and Adarsh Goel
ignored the social reality of caste oppression, harassment and atrocities
perpetrated on Dalits on a daily basis. It has made the arrest and
prosecution of those accused under the Act almost impossible by removing
the restrictions on granting anticipatory bail and imposing a condition
that a public servant can be prosecuted only after obtaining permission
from the higher authorities.

It is unfortunate that the central government counsel did not respond
properly and raise objections against the dilution of the provisions of
the Act. Unless immediate remedial measures are taken by the Central
Government to undo the damage done by the judgement, the forces inimical
to social equality and justice will be further emboldened to perpetrate
violence against Dalits.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) urges the central government to immediately
move a review petition against the retrograde judgment of the Supreme
Court bench.