SC/ST Act dilution: Over a decade, crime rate against Dalits rose by 746%

The Supreme Court expressing concern over the misuse of the Act ruled there shall be no immediate arrest of a citizen or public servant without prior permission

Over the decade to 2016, the rate of crime against dalits rose more than eight times (746%); there were 2.4 crimes per 100,000 dalits in 2006, rising to 20.3 in 2016, according to an IndiaSpend analysis of 2016 National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, the latest available.

The rate of crime against adivasis or scheduled tribes grew by over 12 times (1,160%)–from 0.5 in 2006 to 6.3 in 2016.

However, cases pending police investigation