Paswan questions Oppn silence on 'historic' court judgement

Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan today questioned the opposition's "silence" on the Supreme Court order allowing reservation for scheduled castes and tribes employees in promotion, and asserted that the Modi government will also ensure that original provisions of a law against atrocities against these communities are restored.

The Lok Janshakti Party president said opposition parties "left no stone unturned to fan protests" against the government over Dalit issues, but have now maintained silence on the "historic" judgement from the apex court yesterday.

"Why are they silent? They should clarify if they welcome this historic decision from the court which will benefit a large number of government employees hailing from scheduled castes and tribes," Paswan said.

In a major relief to the Centre, the apex court has allowed it to go ahead with reservations in promotion for the SC/ST employees in "accordance with law".

The reservation was stayed followed various high court orders, prompting the central government to move the Supreme Court.

Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Paswan said he made efforts for the matter to be taken up in the court during the vacation.

"In a similar way, the government will also ensure that the original provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act are also restored," Paswan said.

In its March order, the apex court had put safeguards in the provisions for immediate arrest under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. It had triggered protests by dalits groups which claimed that the law had been diluted.

The apex court had on March 20 said that on "several occasions", innocent citizens were being termed as accused and public servants deterred from performing their duties, which was never the intention of the legislature while enacting the SC/ST Act.

After the SC order, several states were rocked by wide spread violence and clashes that claimed eight lives.

The Centre filed a review plea in the court in April, contending that the order had weakened the law which had caused anger and a sense of disharmony among the people.