Supreme Court declines plea against amendments to SC/ST Act
The amendments include an expanded list of atrocities, acceleration of trial process, and enhanced protection to victims and witnesses, the petition says
On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, the Supreme Court decided not to hear a petition against amendments to the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act passed in 2015 and 2018. The modifications broadened the category of offenses, expedited trials, and improved safeguards for victims and witnesses. Notably, the 2018 amendments nullified the 2015 decision in Subhash Kashinath Mahajan vs State of Maharashtra, which had mandated preliminary inquiries and pre-arrest approvals under the Act.
The petitioner, Brijbhushan Saini, contended that the amendments were "manifestly arbitrary, draconian, and disproportionate," potentially resulting in reverse discrimination and undermining the rule of law, as allegations could be motivated by personal vendettas, political rivalries, or coercion.
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