The death of Rohith Vemula, a research scholar from Hyderabad Central University (HCU) who took his own life due to caste discrimination, gave way to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act , 2015, which underlines specific offenses committed against SC and ST communities. The law came into force Tuesday regardless of the lack of underlying governing laws.
According to an interview by The Indian Express, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot said that "The act in its new form is coming into force from January 26. We have amended it in a manner that atrocities like various forms of social ostracisation can be prevented by law." The minister also impressed that even though the complete framing of the new rules is yet to catch up until next month, the punishment for violators will be severe because even with the old rules the SC/ST Bill will be effective immediately.
According to The Hindu Business Line the SC/ST Bill was passed in August 2015 by the Lok Sabha and unanimously passed in December 2015 by the Raiya Sabha. However, it has been waiting a formal notification and now forced into law because of the ongoing protests due to Vemula's suicide.
The Economic Times reports that acts like "tonsuring of head, moustache, or similar acts which are derogatory to the dignity of members of SCs and STs, will now be treated as offences of atrocities." Other than that, denying access to any irrigation facilities or denying access to forest rights, garlanding members with chappals, forcing them to carry dead human or animal bodies, forcing them to dig graves, stripping their women naked and making her walk without garments as act of shame are now also defined offences of atrocities.
The amended law also allows establishment of special exclusive courts and special exclusive public prosecutors to try those who have violated the new law and enable a speedy processing of cases.
