Verdict on SC/ST Act causing great damage, Centre informs SC
New Delhi: The Centre on Thursday bluntly told the Supreme Court its verdict on the SC/ST Act is resulting in "great damage" to the country and causing "anger and a sense of disharmony" among the people, as it vehemently urged for a review and recall of its order. In an apparent damage control move days after the violent nationwide protests against the verdict, the Centre also dubbed the entire judgement on an issue of "very sensitive nature" as "vitiated" and a "judicial legislation".
It reminded the apex court of separation of powers between the legislatures, the executive and the judiciary. The unusually strong criticism of the top court by the Centre came in its written submissions to back its review petition against the March 20 verdict which "diluted" the stringent provisions of the act that seeks to prevent atrocities against SCs/STs.
The Modi government has come under intense attack from Dalit groups and opposition parties, including Congress for its alleged failure to defend the act in the top court. But it maintained it was not a party to the case which resulted in the apex court issuing guidelines that bar automatic arrest in cases registered under the law.