What are the protections given to SC/STs in the law?

Considering a compromise between the petitioner and respondent, the Supreme Court recently reversed the conviction of a person for discrimination under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

What are the atrocities committed against SC/STs?

The law punishes several atrocities committed against members of the community, such as:

• Hurting or boycotting an SC/ST member
• Making an SC/ST member do bonded labour. The exception will be if the government makes some kind of public service compulsory – in that case it will not be a crime.
• Forcing a SC/ST member to carry or dispose of a human or animal dead body.
• Forcing an SC/ST member to do manual scavenging, or employing an SC/ST member to Damaging any object, such as a statue or picture of Dr. Ambedkar, which is important to members of SCs/STs.
• Saying or publishing anything that encourages hatred of SC/ST communities.
• Blocking an SC/ST member from:

1. Using any common public area or resource such as water bodies, taps, wells, cremation grounds etc.
2. Riding a horse or a vehicle or carrying out a procession.
3. Entering into a religious place or participating in a religious ceremony, that is open to the public.
4. Entering a public place like a school, hospital or cinema hall.
5. Carrying on any business or job.

• Accusing an SC/ST member of practicing witchcraft, and hurting them physically or mentally.
• Making a threat, or to actually exclude them socially or economically.

What are the punishments under the Act?

The punishment for committing any of the abovementioned offences is jail time for six months to five years, along with a fine.

How can you report a crime under this Act?

Police

You can either call 100 or visit a police station to report the incident. The police will note down your details and if needed arrive at your location to provide you immediate help. They will write down your information and details of the incident in an FIR and provide you with a copy of it, free of cost. 

National Commission for Scheduled Castes 

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) is a body set up under the Constitution to investigate and monitor the interests of the scheduled castes. They also have the power to inquire into specific complaints in cases where members of scheduled castes are deprived of their rights. You can either call their toll free helpline or visit their website for more information. 

Toll Free Number: 1800 1800 345

Website: http://ncsc.nic.in/

Email: ncsccomplaints@gmail.com 

Contact details of State Commissions: http://ncsc.nic.in/contactus 

National Commission for Scheduled Tribes

Like the NCSC, there is a National Commission for Scheduled Tribes as well. They have the power to investigate complaints registered for atrocities committed against the members of Scheduled Tribes. 

Website: https://ncst.nic.in/

Contact information for the national commission as well as its regional offices can be found here: https://ncst.nic.in/content/contact-us

SC/ST Protection Cell 

SC/ST Protection Cells have been set up in different States and Union Territories across India. The head of these cells is usually a high ranking police officer of the State or UT, like the inspector general of police or the Additional Director General of Police. If you want to approach such a cell in your state, take the help of the nearest police station.

To know more, read our explainer on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.