Cruel and Degrading Atrocities against SC/ST

Any of the following crimes committed against members of SC/ST are referred to as atrocities in law.  The punishment for these acts is imprisonment between 6 months and 5 years, along with a fine.

• Hurting or boycotting an SC/ST member
• Force-feeding an SC/ST member with any disgusting substance that is not fit for humans to eat, such as cow dung, human excreta etc.
• Dumping any disgusting substances (such as the bodies of dead animals, or excreta) inside or at the gate of a place where SC/ST members live, or in a neighbourhood of an SC/ST member, but only if it is done to insult or annoy her in some way.
• Making an SC/ST member wear a garland of chappals, or making them walk around naked or semi-naked.
• Forcing an SC/ST member to do anything which is insulting to the dignity of a human being, such as making them undress, forcing them to shave his head or his moustache or forcing them to paint his face.
• 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 an 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 do manual scavenging.
• Insulting and humiliating an SC/ST member on purpose, if it is done in a place visible to the public.
• Abusing an SC/ST member using her caste name if it is done in a place visible to the public.
• Damage any object, such as a statue or picture of Dr Ambedkar, which is important to members of SCs/STs.
• Say or publish anything that encourages hatred of SC/ST communities.
• Say or write anything that insults any late person who is important to the SC/ST community, such as a leader.
• Spoiling any water source that is usually used by SC/ST members.
• Blocking an SC/ST member from a public place where she has a right to go.
• Blocking an SC/ST member from:
  • Using any common public area or resource such as water bodies, taps, wells, cremation grounds etc.
  • Riding a horse or a vehicle or carrying out a procession.
  • Entering into a religious place or participating in a religious ceremony, that is open to the public.
  • Entering a public place like a school, hospital or cinema hall.
  • Carrying on any business or job.
• Accusing an SC/ST member of practising witchcraft, and hurting them physically or mentally.
• Making a threat, or actually excluding them socially or economically.