Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the Lok Sabha on Thursday that the government intends to get the amendment to the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act — approved by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday to mollify Dalit groups angered by its "dilution" by safeguards introduced by the Supreme Court — passed in the current session of Parliament.
Mr. Singh said that after the Supreme Court introduced procedures such as preliminary enquiry and anticipatory bail for its application, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said the government would bring in a Bill that would ensure the law did not lose its teeth but was further strengthened.
Mr. Singh gave this assurance during the Zero Hour after the Congress's floor leader Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Centre of doing nothing to address the concerns of Dalits and tribal people for four long months after the Supreme Court order.
'Rajiv legacy'
Mr. Kharge said the SC/ST (POA) Act, 1989, was a legacy of the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and was legislated in September, 1989, three months before V.P. Singh took charge as Prime Minister.
At least 17 parties and many members of Parliament met President Ramnath Kovind on March 24 and requested him and the government to nullify the Supreme Court ruling. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi also wrote to the Prime Minister on this, he pointed out.
Mr. Kharge said that while the Centre had got ordinances promulgated on all sorts of routine issues such as a National Sports University, Central Homoeopathy Council, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and Commercial Courts, it had failed to bring an ordinance to undo the injustice meted out to Dalits in the "dilution" of the Act.
“You bring a Bill tomorrow. We’ll get it passed,” Mr. Kharge said.
Mr. Singh, in his reply, expressed surprise that Mr. Kharge was complaining about the issue just a day after the Union Cabinet approved the Bill. The Centre wanted it passed before the monsoon session ended.