Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) leader Prakash Ambedkar has termed the Supreme Court judgement on the SC/ST Atrocities Act ‘unfortunate’ and demanded that the government seek a review by a larger Bench of the apex court.
“The Atrocities Act has been made toothless by the new ruling. Moreover, I feel the ruling might end up ensuring that such cases never reach the judiciary,” Mr. Ambedkar said during a press conference on Thursday.
The SC observed on Tuesday that the Act, which protects Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, was being misused and had issued guidelines to protect public servants and private employees from arrests under it.
The judgement also provided for accused to get anticipatory bail. Mr. Ambedkar said the Act did not have provision of anticipatory bail as it does not include certain aspects of the Code of Criminal Procedure. “Which is why this judgement needs to be legislated. The SC cannot replace the Parliament,” Mr. Ambedkar said.
He said the current ruling will grant the administration judicial powers.
Mr. Ambedkar said the protest march to Vidhan Sabha will go ahead as planned on March 26 if right-wing leader Sambhaji Bhide is not arrested in the Bhima-Koregaon case. He said there is no political will to arrest Mr. Bhide as he is close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
