Police & notices
Caste abuse, discrimination or attack (SC/ST Atrocities Act)
The Atrocities Act gives special protection: police must register an FIR without a preliminary inquiry, and victims are entitled to relief money and protection.
Answer a few questions and get your list →What the law says
The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 makes caste-based insults in public view, social or economic boycott, land grabbing, violence and other acts specific offences. Under Section 18A, no preliminary inquiry is needed before registering an FIR and anticipatory bail is generally barred. Investigation is by an officer of at least DSP rank, cases are tried in Special Courts, victims have a right to be heard and to protection (Section 15A), and the rules give monetary relief at set stages. An accused can face this law only if they are not themselves SC/ST.
General information, not legal advice.
Papers that usually help
- Caste certificate
Basis for the Act to apply. - Names and numbers of people who saw or heard it
Independent witnesses are crucial. - Videos, audio or messages with the words used
Proves exact words and intent. - Medical certificate (MLC) and hospital records
Needed for violence offences and relief. - Land records and documents of the property taken
Wrongful occupation of SC/ST land is an offence. - FIR copy showing the Atrocities Act sections
Relief and special protections depend on it. - Written complaint to the SP or District Magistrate, and the State/National Commission
For refusal or wrong sections.
Questions Saboot will ask you
- What happened?
- Did it happen where others could see or hear?
- Do you have a caste certificate?
- Have you gone to the police?
Sources
- Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
- National Commission for Scheduled Castes
- NALSA — free legal aid
Common situations
- Insulted by caste name in public
- Attacked because of caste
- Land taken by force from a Dalit or Adivasi family
- Social boycott of my family
- Police not registering an atrocity case
Also searched as: caste abuse, caste slur, casteist remark, caste discrimination, sc st act, sc/st act, atrocity, atrocity case, atrocities act, untouchability, dalit, adivasi