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Any of the following crimes committed against members of SC/ST are referred to as atrocities in law. The punishment for these acts is imprisonment between 6 months and 5 years, along with a fine.
- Hurting or boycotting an SC/ST member
- Force-feeding an SC/ST member with any disgusting substance that is not fit for humans to eat, such as cow dung, human excreta etc.
- Dumping any disgusting substances (such as the bodies of dead animals, or excreta) inside or at the gate of a place where SC/ST members live, or in a neighbourhood of an SC/ST member, but only if it is done to insult or annoy her in some way.
- Making an SC/ST member wear a garland of chappals, or making them walk around naked or semi-naked.
- Forcing an SC/ST member to do anything which is insulting to the dignity of a human being, such as making them undress, forcing them to shave his head or his moustache or forcing them to paint his face.
- Making an SC/ST member do bonded labour. The exception will be if the government makes some kind of public service compulsory – in that case, it will not be a crime.
- Forcing an SC/ST member to carry or dispose of a human or animal dead body.
- Forcing an SC/ST member to do manual scavenging, or employing an SC/ST member to do manual scavenging.
- Insulting and humiliating an SC/ST member on purpose, if it is done in a place visible to the public.
- Abusing an SC/ST member using her caste name if it is done in a place visible to the public.
- Damage any object, such as a statue or picture of Dr Ambedkar, which is important to members of SCs/STs.
- Say or publish anything that encourages hatred of SC/ST communities.
- Say or write anything that insults any late person who is important to the SC/ST community, such as a leader.
- Spoiling any water source that is usually used by SC/ST members.
- Blocking an SC/ST member from a public place where she has a right to go.
- Blocking an SC/ST member from:
- Using any common public area or resource such as water bodies, taps, wells, cremation grounds etc.
- Riding a horse or a vehicle or carrying out a procession.
- Entering into a religious place or participating in a religious ceremony, that is open to the public.
- Entering a public place like a school, hospital or cinema hall.
- Carrying on any business or job.
- Accusing an SC/ST member of practising witchcraft, and hurting them physically or mentally.
- Making a threat, or actually excluding them socially or economically.
Anil Kumar
October 11, 2023
I am Anil Kumar belongs to sc community,some people of my village disregard and atrocity on us when they get chance. We approach to police but instead of taking my complaint,police lodge false FIR against us. And on every concerned platform ,we gave their complaint but nothing to be change.
Now what should I do. Plz suggest and help.
Alka Manral
September 2, 2024
A complaint can be filed under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 which prohibits specific forms of discrimination and atrocities against SC/ST members.You can also visit the Exclusive Special Court established under the act or contact Special Public Prosecutor menioned in the Act. You can also file a complaint with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) either online or written complaint. If the police is not filing your FIR, you can approach the Police Superitendent and write to him regarding the details of the police not filing your complaint. Further to check the status of the complaint or FIR, you can file RTI application. If the police have filed a false complaint against you, you can file a complaint under State Police Complaints Authority.