Allahabad HC rules SC/ST Act cannot be invoked for membership
The Allahabad High Court just clarified that you cannot use the SC/ST Act solely because someone belongs to a Scheduled Caste or Tribe.
This came up during a Ghaziabad property dispute, with Justice Santosh Rai saying there needs to be clear evidence of caste-based wrongdoing, not just membership.
SC/ST proceedings dropped, cheating charges continue
In this case, the court found no proof in the FIR or case diary.
As Justice Rai put it, "So far as the offense under the SC/ST Act is concerned, there is no material in the FIR or case diary to indicate that the accused-applicant used any caste-based words or abused, insulted or humiliated the victim on the ground of his belonging to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe," said Justice Santosh Rai.
So, proceedings under the SC/ST Act were dropped, but charges like cheating will still go ahead.