SC/ST Act: Supreme Court refuses to stay its order

New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to stay its ruling which activists say has diluted a law aimed at preventing atrocities on Dalits and tribes.

A bench of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, however, said compensation can be paid to victims under The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, even without a FIR being registered.

The bench said this on a plea by the Centre seeking recall of its March 20 order where the apex court had said that no arrest would be affected on a complaint under the Act without an inquiry. 

Earlier, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that the government has no intention of changing the existing reservation policy for Dalits and tribes.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Rajnath Singh dubbed as rumours speculation that the government wanted to end the reservation system. "Rumours are being spread about reservation policy, it is wrong.

"I appeal to all political parties to help in maintaining peace and amity in the country," he added amid noisy protests.

The comments came a day after widespread protests by Dalits rocked the country against the dilution of a law aimed at preventing atrocities on Dalits and tribals.

(IANS updates)