The Allahabad High Court has voiced concerns regarding the misuse of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. In a recent judgment, Justice Manju Rani Chauhan highlighted instances where the Act, initially enacted to protect marginalized communities from discrimination and violence, is being exploited by some individuals to obtain compensation falsely.
The court underscored the necessity of introducing a robust pre-registration verification process. This system would require law enforcement agencies to evaluate the legitimacy of complaints thoroughly before the formal filing of FIRs, which could prevent potential misuse.
Justice Chauhan outlined several measures to strengthen the implementation of the SC/ST Act and reduce instances of abuse. “There should be mandatory mediation sessions before escalating disputes to the legal system, specialized training programs for police and judicial officers, and the establishment of a dedicated oversight body to monitor and investigate misuse,” Justice Chauhan suggested.
Further to these preventive strategies, the court also recommended launching public awareness campaigns. These campaigns would educate communities about the original intent of the Act and the serious consequences of lodging false claims, thus promoting a culture of integrity and accountability.
The observations came during a case where the court quashed criminal proceedings against individuals falsely accused under the SC/ST Act in Sambhal district. The alleged victim confessed to filing a false FIR under villager pressure and expressed no desire to continue the legal battle. The court ordered the alleged victim to repay Rs 75,000 received as compensation from the state.
