SC & ST Act Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act Landmark judgments (Case Law)

SC & ST Act Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989

Case laws

1. State of M.P. v Ram Krishna Balothia (1995)

Supreme Court - Constitutional validity of SC/ST Act upheld; denial of anticipatory bail under Section 18 is valid and not violative of Articles 14 & 21.

2. Subhash Kashinath Mahajan v State of Maharashtra (2018)

Supreme Court - Introduced safeguards against misuse; preliminary inquiry and sanction required before arrest of public servants.

3. Union of India v State of Maharashtra (2019)

Supreme Court - Reversed Subhash Mahajan; no prior approval or preliminary inquiry required; restored strict application of SC/ST Act.

4. Prithvi Raj Chauhan v Union of India (2020)

Supreme Court - Upheld 2018 Amendment; anticipatory bail barred except where prima facie case not made out.

5. Hitesh Verma v State of Uttarakhand (2020)

Supreme Court - Offence under Act must be on account of victim’s caste; mere abuse not sufficient unless caste-based intent shown.

6. Swaran Singh v State (2008)

Supreme Court - Caste-based insult must occur in “public view” to attract Section 3(1)(x) (now 3(1)(r)).

7. Asmathunnisa v State of A.P. (2011)

Supreme Court - Insult must be intentional and with knowledge of caste identity; casual remarks insufficient.

8. Gorige Pentaiah v State of A.P. (2008)

Supreme Court - Complaint must specifically allege caste-based insult in public view; vague allegations not enough.

9. Dinesh @ Buddha v State of Rajasthan (2006)

Supreme Court - Mere knowledge of caste not enough; offence must be committed to humiliate on caste basis.

10. Arumugam Servai v State of Tamil Nadu (2011)

Supreme Court - Caste discrimination is a serious offence; courts must strictly enforce provisions.

11. Khuman Singh v State of M.P. (2019)

Supreme Court - Intention to humiliate on caste basis must be proved; absence of such intent leads to acquittal.

12. Ashabai Machindra Adhagale v State of Maharashtra (2009)

Supreme Court - At FIR stage, detailed proof not required; prima facie case sufficient to proceed.

13. State of Karnataka v Appa Balu Ingale (1995)

Supreme Court - Untouchability practices condemned; SC/ST Act aims to eradicate caste-based atrocities.

14. Vilubhai Nanbhai Parmar v State of Gujarat (2018)

Supreme Court - Caste abuse must be in public view; private altercation not covered.

15. Ramesh Chandra Vaishya v State of U.P. (2017)

Supreme Court - Property disputes without caste element do not attract SC/ST Act.

16. Hiral P. Harsora v Kusum Narottamdas Harsora (2016)

Supreme Court - Though not directly on SC/ST Act, emphasized equality principles influencing interpretation.

17. Manju Devi v Onkarjit Singh Ahluwalia (2017)

Supreme Court - Procedural safeguards must not dilute object of special statutes like SC/ST Act.

18. State of Rajasthan v Bhanwar Singh (2004)

Supreme Court - Conviction sustainable when caste-based insult proved in public view.

19. Patan Jamal Vali v State of Andhra Pradesh (2021)

Supreme Court - Intersectionality recognized; caste + gender discrimination considered aggravating factor.

20. Ritesh Pandey v State of U.P. (2021)

Supreme Court - False implication must be examined carefully; Act should not be misused.

21. Dr. Subhash Kashinath Mahajan Review Case (2019)

Supreme Court - Clarified earlier judgment; legislature’s intent to protect SC/ST must prevail.

22. Ramdas v State of Maharashtra (2007)

Supreme Court - Victim testimony sufficient if credible; corroboration not mandatory.

23. State of Maharashtra v Vijay (2017)

Supreme Court - Special courts under Act must ensure speedy trial.

24. Gopi Chand v State of Rajasthan (2018)

Rajasthan High Court - Abuse must be directly linked to caste identity for conviction.

25. Munna Pandey v State of Bihar (2020)

Patna High Court - Land dispute without caste motive does not attract SC/ST Act.

26. Rajendra Kumar v State of U.P. (2019)

Allahabad High Court - Mere mention of caste name not enough; intention to insult must be proved.

27. Bharat Singh v State of Haryana (2014)

Punjab & Haryana High Court - Public view includes presence of persons other than complainant and accused.

28. Sanjeev Kumar v State of H.P. (2017)

Himachal Pradesh High Court - Complaint must disclose essential ingredients of offence under Act.

29. Kailas v State of Maharashtra (2011)

Supreme Court - Courts must be sensitive to plight of SC/ST victims; strict enforcement needed.