SC to hear review pleas on SC/ST recall verdict on May 3
New Delhi, April 27: The Supreme Court will hold further hearing on May 3, on Centre's plea seeking the recall of its judgement holding that arrest on a complaint under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act is not mandatory.
A bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said that it would hear the Centre's plea after Attorney General K.K. Venugopal told the bench that in compliance of the court's April 3 order all parties have submitted their written submissions.
The Centre had moved the top court for the review of the judgement that generated a lot of protests including by the lawmakers, who felt that the Supreme Court verdict had diluted the provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act meant to protect the people of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The judgement sought to be reviewed was pronounced by a bench of Justice Goel and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit on March 20.
In the last hearing of the matter on April 3, the top court had refused to stay the operation of the judgement but made it clear that the compensation can be paid to victims of alleged atrocities under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, even without an FIR being registered.
Refusing to budge on its five directions issued on March 20, the court had in the last hearing said: "We are not against the law or its implementation" and the directions in no way "diluted" the law but were aimed to protect the innocent people from being punished.
It described its direction for preliminary inquiry before an FIR is registered on a complaint as "filter" to protect the innocent, the court said, "We don't want to deprive anyone of his rights under (the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act) but we don't want an innocent is punished."
The court had said in its April 3 hearing that all they have done is to read Article 21 of the Constitution -- guaranteeing protection of life and personal liberty -- in the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and that should happen with every statute.
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PM Modi speaks to Iranian president, discusses 'serious' situation in West Asia
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone and discussed the "serious situation" in West Asia.
Modi expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions in the region and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.
The prime minister told the Iranian President that the safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India's top priorities.
“Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region. Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure,” Modi said in a post on X.
The prime minister also reiterated India's commitment to peace and stability and urged dialogue and diplomacy to end the crisis.
The prime minister had spoken to leaders of several West Asian countries in the last 10 days in the wake of the coordinated offensive launched against Iran by the United States and Israel, in which the Islamic country's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed last month.
In retaliation, Iran has fired drones and missiles at Israel and US military installations around the Gulf region, including the global business and aviation hubs of Dubai and Doha.
Modi earlier spoke to the leaders of Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Israel and Qatar, and expressed concern over the attacks on their countries, and condemned the violation of some nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also discussed the welfare and security of the Indian community residing in those countries.
Around 1 crore Indians live in the Gulf and West Asia. While about 10,000 Indian citizens live, study and work in Iran, more than 40,000 live in Israel.
