The Supreme Court of India has quashed the charges framed against an accused under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, ruling that the material on record failed to establish the necessary ingredient of “knowledge” that the victim belonged to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe. The Division Bench, comprising Justice
Supreme Court: Knowledge of Victim’s Caste Essential for SC/ST Act Offence; Quashes Charges, Says “Process Itself Can Become Punishment”
