SC, ST Atrocity Act: State to file implead plea in apex court

Minister for Social Welfare Nakka Anand Babu has asserted that the State government will implead itself in the Supreme court on banning automatic arrest and registration of cases for alleged harassment of SCs/STs.

At a press conference here on Thursday, the Minister said the government had no trust in the Centre that it would do justice to Dalits and tribal people, though it filed a review petition in the Supreme Court. So, the State government decided to file an implead petition in the apex court on its ruling on the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, he said.

The apex court recently ruled that a preliminary inquiry must be conducted by the police within seven days of an alleged incident before taking any action.

Following uproar and unrest from various quarters, the Centre filed a review petition.

Mr. Babu said: “The Centre is indifferent to and has no concern for Dalits though 11 people died in protests against the ruling. Atrocities against Dalits are on rise,” he said, adding, “Under the present circumstances, the State government believes, justice will not be done to the Dalits under Modi rule.” When pointed out that Garagaparru, Devarapalli and Gottipadu incidents reported Dalit harassment in the State, the Minister said, “The government acted according to law.”

Jagan criticised

Mr. Anand Babu said YSR Congress Party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy had no concern for the Dalits. Hence, he hasn't uttered a word on the killing of Dalits in north India. The BJP has plans sail along with the YSRCP. But, it failed to understand that it would not secure even 2,000 votes in each constituency. The people were averse to the BJP, he added.