SC/ST Act: Manda takes exception on SC ruling

Anantapur: MRPS president Manda Krishna Madiga has taken strong exception to the Supreme Court judgement watering down the SC,ST Atrocities Act, making it 'not mandatory' for the law enforcing agencies to arrest the accused in the case.

Participating in the 'Dalita Girijana Simha Garjana Sadassu' at the busy Saptagiri Circle in the city on Monday, Manda Krishna stated that the judgement refrains the police from arresting the accused in an SC,ST Atrocities case. Arrest should be carried out only after a thorough enquiry, he said quoting the court order.

Accused and vested interests would take advantage of the SC ruling and try to water down the cases. The Atrocities Act was the only hope of the socially and economically weaker sections. But this weapon to fight the exploiters had been removed by a single verdict, he lamented.

The MRPS president called upon all the SC,ST organisations to unite together to pressurise the courts to reverse their verdict and the central government to take appropriate steps to restore status quo of the Act. Hundreds of SCT,ST activists particpated in the massive public meeting. Several SC,ST leaders also spoke on the occasion.