Judge defends verdict on SC/ST Act

Judge defends verdict on SC/ST Act

News:

1. Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, who retired as Supreme Court judge recently, has defended the 20^th March verdict on SC/ST Act

Important facts:

2. In 20^th March verdict the Supreme Court had expressed concerns over the misuse of the SC/ST Act. The Court upheld that there should not be any automatic arrest under the SC/ST Act and a primary inquiry must be conducted by the police before taking any action.
3. The verdict called for allowing accused person to apply for anticipatory bail. The court upheld that there is no absolute bar for granting anticipatory bail in a matter under the Act.
4. Previously, Section 18 of the Sc/St Act, 1989 barred accused persons from seeking anticipatory bail
5. Justice Goel has defended the judgement stating that the verdict aimed to protect innocent persons falsely accused under the SC/ST (prevention of Atrocities Act)