The Congress on Wednesday expressed “serious concern” over the Supreme Court’s judgement, delivered on Tuesday that a public servant cannot be arrested under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act without a preliminary inquiry and the approval, PTI reported.
“There is serious concern over yesterday’s decision of the Supreme Court. If it is not reviewed, it will be very unfortunate,” senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said. “There is a feeling of insecurity among the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and other oppressed classes.” He called for a review of the decision in “national interest”.
Sharma questioned the silence of the Centre on the matter and said that it should clarify its stand and present it before the Supreme Court.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Centre and the Maharashtra government, which were parties to the case, did not present it properly before the top court. He claimed that atrocities against Dalits had risen and that the government should either review the order or amend the Act.
Congress MP Kumari Selja alleged that the verdict was a result of the policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Both Selja and Congress Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha Jyotiraditya Scindia claimed that the BJP and RSS wanted to end reservation in the country.
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