Two days ago, the most dangerous and dracanion SC ST Amendment Bill is passed unanimously in the Lower House of the Parliament to reverse the effects of Supreme Court Judgement dated 21st March, 2018 which put stay on automatic arrest.
On last Friday, the Union Social, Justice and Empowernment Minister Mr. Thawar Chand Gehlot presented the bill and this Monday the bill is unanimously passed. There are three draconion amendments counter to the SC judgements which make this bill even more terrorizing:
1. SC directed that before registering FIR an investigation has to be made by an investigation officer of rank of Deputy Suprerintendent of Police.
After Amendment: FIR shall be registered compulsorily upon receiving a complaint by the member of SC/ST community.
2. Supreme Court directed before investigation permission is required by Sanctioning Authority.
After Amendment: Automatic arrest
3. Supreme Court directs for anticipitory bail in frivolous matters
After Amendment: No provision of anticipatory bail.
A very sarcastic opinion is taken by Mr. Thawar Chand Gehlot while presenting the bill which says "Just because the Act is misused we cannot dilute the Act. " His opinion is running counter to the judgement of Supreme Court and perhaps is also negating the welfare opinion taken by supreme court before allowing anticipatory bail under the draconion.
Even the draconion amendment is not enough to appease oppositions, some shameless politicians are still demanding to insert the Act in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution to ward it off from the scrutiny of judiciary. In other words, Caste appeasement is such a curse in our society that the right to approach judiciary is being taken away by generals and OBCs for grievance redressal. Our Union Minister, Anupriya Patel has even went to such an extent to say that due to low representations of SC/ST community in judiciary, such judgements would haunt us in future if we do not take upon the issue.
This government has seriously lost faith among Generals/OBCs. Our right to approach judiciary is weakening and perhaps we shall be left with no mechanism of grievance redressal on the altar of courts. Generals/OBCs reunite. We have to fight for our own. Let us make the petition a huge success by putting millions of signatures. Raise your voice, make your support aloud!