Page 528 - SSB Interview: The Complete Guide, Second Edition

verbal assault of the Dalits who were powerless financially, emotionally
and socially to retaliate. These atrocities could not be dealt with under

the provision of the Act and forced the legislature to enact a law in 1989

called The Prevention of Dalit Atrocities Act.

9. The SCs and STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 with stringent
provisions was promulgated on 9 September 1989. Under the powers

vested in the government under Section 23(1) of the Act, the Scheduled
Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules of

1995 were framed. The rules for the Act were notified on 31 March

1995.

10. This law facilitates:

Punishing crimes against people belonging to Scheduled Castes and

Tribes

Special protection and rights to victims

Setting up courts for fast completion of cases

Increased punishments for some crimes

Punishing cruel and degrading crimes which are socially and

humanly unacceptable

Atrocity

11. In Indian jurisprudence, “atrocity” could be defined post the Act, as:

An expression commonly referred to as crimes against Scheduled

Castes and Scheduled Tribes

Cruel and inhuman acts of unimaginable magnitude

Any offence under the Indian Penal Code perpetrated by a non-
Scheduled Caste person against an SC/ST person will be brought

under the purview of atrocity. Caste consideration as a motive for

such a crime is not mandatory.