Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989

The Act was passed to make punishment more stringent and it made untouchability a criminal & non-bailable offence.

Some Major Features of the Act

• Creation of new types of offences not in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) or in the Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955 (PCRA).
• Crimes among SCs and STs or between STs and SCs do not come under the purview of this Act.
• Enhanced minimum punishment for public servants.
• Punishment for neglect of duties by a public servant (Section 4).
• Cancellation of arms licenses in the areas identified where an atrocity may take place or has taken place and grant arms ....