New Delhi, Apr 2: The Centre moved the Supreme Court today seeking a review of its recent order which allegedly dilutes the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The review petition of the government comes amid the call of Bharat Bandh issued by over a dozen pro-Dalit outfits across the nation.

"I wish to convey that today we've filed a petition on the judgement by Supreme Court on the SC/ST act. We have filed a comprehensive review petition which will be presented before the court by the senior lawyers of the government," said Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

The petition will be taken up for hearing later in the day.

The apex court on March 20 had issued amendments to the SC/ST Act, striking down the provision of immediate arrest. The two-judge bench also issued a ruling allowing the accused to seek anticipatory bail.

As per the changes ordered by the top court, an FIR against a government employee could be registered only after seeking approval from the appointing authority. In other cases, the accused will be booked only after a preliminary inquiry conducted by a police official.

The SC ruling came while hearing a plea of Subhash Mahajan, former technical education director, who was charged under the Atrocities Act based upon the complaint of his subordinate.

The bench of Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and Uday Umesh Lalit contended with Mahajan's petition that the law was abused to prosecute him.

The court also took note of data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau. In 2015, the NCRB recorded 15,638 cases under the SC/ST Act. Out of them, only 4,119 resulted in conviction, whereas, 11,024 cases led to the acquittal or discharge of the accused.

Dalit organisations across the nation, along with the Opposition parties, marked their dissent against the order. They have accused the Centre of inadequately representing the case before the SC.

"The basic question is to why they were unable to present the case properly before SC and lost, inquiry needed," said Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

Among groups which have called the Bharat bandh today include: the National Dalit Movement for Justice, the Jati Aant Sangharsh Samiti, the Sanvidhan Samvardhan Samiti and the Rashtriya Seva Dal, among others.

The political parties whose cadres will support the bandh include: Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh, the Communist Party of India, the Peasants and Workers Party, the Janata Dal, among others. The Left-backed Centre For Indian Trade Unions has also extended support to the protest.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 02, 2018 11:07 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).