Bombay High Court rules SC/ST Act excludes Muslim converts
The Bombay High Court just ruled that the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act does not apply if someone has converted to Islam.
In this case, a woman who was originally from a Scheduled Caste filed a complaint against her in-laws for caste-based abuse, but since she converted at the time of her marriage in 2011, the court said the Act no longer protects her.
Property dispute sparks IPC trial
This all started with a family property dispute. The woman accused her husband's sister and brother-in-law of assault and using caste slurs during a 2015 visit.
The defense argued it was just fallout from civil disagreements, while prosecutors agreed the SC/ST Act did not fit but said regular criminal charges still did.
So, while the court dropped charges under the Atrocities Act, it decided there is enough evidence for an Indian Penal Code (IPC) trial, meaning the accused will still have to face court on other grounds.