Will Issue Ordinance on SC-ST Act if Decision Not in Favour: Gehlot

Mumbai, Apr 26 (PTI) Union Minister for Social Justice Thawar Chand Gehlot today said if the Supreme Court's decision on a Centre's review petition on the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act didn't go in the government's favour, it would issue an ordinance.

Speaking at an event to celebrate Dr B R Ambedkar's 127th birth anniversary (which fell on April 14), Gehlot said that "attempts are being made to create an atmosphere (of suspicion) that we are doing away with reservations or diluting the atrocities act".

"But let me clarify that we never intended to do so in the past, neither we are doing it now, nor will we do it in future," he said, asserting the government had no intention to tamper with the reservations.

In a verdict on March 20, the apex court had introduced some safeguards for arrests under the SCs/STs (Atrocities Act) by prohibiting automatic registration of cases and arrests under the act, triggering protests by Dalit organisations.

Gehlot said the NDA government had filed a review petition in the apex court.

"We have firmly put forth our views before the Supreme Court, saying that our government does not want any kind of change in the current Atrocities Act. We have filed a review petition....The government's view is that the Act is valid and so are its sections. There might be certain cases of misuse, but largely it has been instrumental in providing social security to certain sections of the society," he said.

If the the apex court's decision on the review petition didn't favour the government's stand, he said, "We will issue an ordinance". "We are the only firm believer in the tenets of Constitution shaped by Dr B R Ambedkar."

Gehlot was speaking as the chief guest at the event held at the ONGC office at Bandra Kurla Complex here, organised by the All India SC/ST Employees Welfare Association.

The reservations did not harm upper caste people, he said. "It (the reservation policy) is in accordance with the population of the country. But a few people have vitiated the atmosphere," the BJP leader said.

On reservations in promotion in government jobs, Gehlot said had the earlier governments and some state governments shown political will, the issue would not have arisen. "However, our government is dealing with this issue and I want to assure that the final outcome will be in your (those in reserved categories) favour," he said.

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