SC fiat to Centre, states to properly implement SC/ST Act

The Supreme Court has directed the Centre and state governments to strictly enforce provisions of the law while asking other competent authorities to discharge their duties to protect the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to attain the constitutional goal of equality for all citizens.
The apex court delivered the judgement after holding that there has been a failure on the part of authorities concerned in complying with the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and Rules due to which the "laudable object" of it is defeated by their "indifferent attitude".
"The constitutional goal of equality for all the citizens of this country can be achieved only when the rights of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are protected. The abundant material on record proves that the authorities concerned are guilty of not enforcing the provisions of the Act. The travails of the members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes continue unabated," a bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur said.

Further, the bench directed the concerned national
commissions to discharge their duties to protect the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
It requested the National Legal Services Authority to formulate appropriate schemes to spread awareness and provide free legal aid to members of SCs and STs.

"We have carefully examined the material on record and we are of the opinion that there has been a failure on the part of the concerned authorities in complying with the provisions of the Act and rules. The laudable object with which the Act had been made is defeated by the indifferent attitude of the authorities," it said.

"It is true that the state governments are responsible for carrying out the provisions of the Act as contended by the counsel for the Union of India. At the same time, the central government has an important role to play in ensuring the compliance of the provisions of the Act," the bench said.
It passed the verdict on a petition filed by National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights, which was aggrieved by the "non-implementation" of the provisions of the Act and had sought directions for forthwith setting up special officers, nodal officers and protection cell as required under the Act.

It had also sought directions for competent authorities to identify and notify atrocity-prone areas and to take appropriate action in accordance with law immediately and also to frame a rehabilitation package forthwith.