May 03, 2018: The Centre today demanded a stay on the Supreme Court order on the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Act, with the top court saying it is hundred per cent in favour of protecting the rights of these communities and punishing those guilty of atrocities against them.
The observations by a bench of Justices A K Goel and U U Lalit came after the Centre, represented by Attorney General K K Venugopal, sought a stay on the Supreme Court order in the matter.
He said, the apex court cannot make rules or guidelines which go against the law passed by the legislature.
Mr Venugopal also pointed out that the SC/ST verdict had resulted in the loss of life and the case be referred to a larger bench. Justifying its March 20 order, the bench said while deciding on the verdict on the SC/ST Act, the top court had considered every aspect and all the judgements before reaching a conclusion.
The Centre had moved the apex court on the 2nd of last month seeking review of its judgement by which safeguards were put on the provisions for immediate arrest under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
The apex court had on the 27th of last month decided Centre’s plea seeking review of its March 20 verdict on the SC/ST Act but had made it clear that it would not entertain any other petition in the matter.
The apex court had on March 20 said that on several occasions, innocent citizens were being termed as accused and public servants deterred from performing their duties, which was never the intention of the legislature while enacting the SC/ST Act.
Several states were rocked by wide-spread violence and clashes following a Bharat Bandh call given by several SC/ST organisations protesting the top court’s March 20 order, that claimed eight lives. (AIR News)
