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TheScheduledCastesandScheduledTribes(Preventionof
Atrocities)Act,1989
No.33OF1989
[11thSeptember,1989.]
AnActtopreventthecommissionofoffencesofatrocitiesagainstthemembersoftheScheduledCastesandthe
ScheduledTribes,toprovideforSpecialCourtsforthetrialofsuchoffencesandforthereliefandrehabilitation
ofthevictimsofsuchoffencesandformattersconnectedtherewithorincidentalthereto.
BEitenactedbyParliamentintheFortiethYearoftheRepublicofIndiaasFollows:

ChapterI:PRELIMINARY
1.Shorttitle,extentandcommencement
1. ThisActmaybecalledtheScheduledCastesandtheScheduledextentandTribes(Preventionof
Atrocities)Act,1989.
2. ItextendstothewholeofIndiaexcepttheStateofJammu&Kashmir.
3. ItshallcomeintoforceonsuchdateastheCentralGovernmentmay,bynotificationintheOfficial
Gazette,appoint.

2.Definitions
1. InthisActunlessthecontextotherwiserequires
a. "atrocity"meansanoffencepunishableundersection3
b. "Code"meanstheCodeofCriminalProcedure,1973(2of1974)
c. "ScheduledCastesandScheduledTribes"shallhavethemeaningsassignedtothemrespectively
underclause(24)andclause(25)ofarticle366oftheConstitution
d. "SpecialCourt"meansaCourtofSessionspecifiedasaSpecialCourtinsection14
e. "SpecialPublicProsecutor"meansaPublicProsecutorspecifiedasaSpecialPublicProsecutoror
anadvocatereferredtoinsection15
f. wordsandexpressionsunsedbutnotdefinedinthisActanddefinedintheCodeortheIndian
PenalCode(45of1860)shallhavethemeaningsassignedtothemrespectivelyintheCode,oras
thecasemaybe,intheIndianPenalCode.
2. AnyreferenceinthisActtoanyenactmentoranyprovisionthereofshallinrelationtoanareainwhich
suchenactmentorsuchprovisionisnotinforce,beconstruedasareferencetothecorrespondinglaw,if
any,inforceinthatarea.

CHAPTERII:OFFENCESOFATROCITIES
3.Punishmentforoffencesofatrocities
1. Whoever,notbeingamemberofaScheduledCasteoraScheduledTribe
i. forcesamemberofaScheduledCasteoraScheduledTribetodrinkoreatanyinedibleor
obnoxioussubstance
ii. actswithintenttocauseinjury,insultorannoyancetoanymemberofaScheduledCaste,ora
ScheduledTribebydumpingexcreta,wastematter,carcassesoranyotherobnoxioussubstance
inhispremisesorneighbourhood
iii. forciblyremovesclothesfromthepersonofamemberofaScheduledCasteoraScheduled
Tribeorparadeshimnakedorwithpaintedfaceorbodyorcommitsanysimilaractwhichis
derogatorytohumandignity
iv. wrongfullyoccupiesorcultivatesanylandownedby,orallottedto,ornotifiedbyanycompetent
authoritytobeallottedto,amemberofaScheduledCasteoraScheduledTribeorgetstheland
allottedtohimtransferred
v. wrongfullydispossessesamemberofaScheduledCasteoraScheduledTribefromhislandor
premisesorinterfereswiththeenjoymentofhisrightsoveranyland,premisesorwater
vi. compelsorenticesamemberofaScheduledCasteoraScheduledTribetodo'begar'orother
similarformsofforcedorbondedlabourotherthananycompulsoryserviceforpublicpurposes
imposedbyGovernment
vii. forcesorintimidatesamemberofaScheduledCasteoraScheduledTribenottovoteortovote
toaparticularcandidateortovoteinamannerotherthanthatprovidedbylaw
viii. institutesfalse,maliciousorvexatioussuitorcriminalorotherlegalproceedingsagainsta
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memberofaScheduledCasteoraScheduledTribe
ix. givesanyfalseorfrivolousinformationtoanypublicservantandtherebycausessuchpublic
servanttousehislawfulpowertotheinjuryorannoyanceofamemberofaScheduledCasteora
ScheduledTribe
x. intentionallyinsultsorintimidateswithintenttohumiliateamemberofaScheduledCasteora
ScheduledTribeinanyplacewithinpublicview
xi. assaultsorusesforcetoanywomanbelongingtoaScheduledCasteoraScheduledTribewith
intenttodishonouroroutragehermodesty
xii. beinginapositiontodominatethewillofawomanbelongingtoaScheduledCasteoraScheduled
Tribeandusesthatpositiontoexploithersexuallytowhichshewouldnothaveotherwiseagreed
xiii. corruptsorfoulsthewaterofanyspring,reservoiroranyothersourceordinarilyusedby
membersoftheScheduledCastesoraScheduledTribessoastorenderitlessfitforthepurpose
forwhichitisordinarilyused
xiv. deniesamemberofaScheduledCasteoraScheduledTribeanycustomaryrightofpassagetoa
placeofpublicresortorobstructssuchmembersoastopreventhimfromusingorhavingaccess
toaplaceofpublicresorttowhichothermembersofpublicoranysectionthereofhavearightto
useoraccessto
xv. forcesorcausesamemberofaScheduledCasteoraScheduledTribetoleavehishouse,village
orotherplaceofresidence
shallbepunishablewithimprisonmentforatermwhichshallnotbelessthansixmonthsbutwhichmay
extendtofiveyearsandwithfine.
2. Whoever,notbeingamemberofaScheduledCasteoraScheduledTribe
i. givesorfabricatesfalseevidenceintendingtherebytocause,orknowingittobelikelythathewill
therebycause,anymemberofaScheduledCasteoraScheduledTribetobeconvictedofan
offencewhichiscapitalbythelawforthetimebeinginforceshallbepunishedwithimprisonment
forlifeandwithfineandifaninnocentmemberofaScheduledCasteoraScheduledTribebe
convictedandexecutedinconsequenceofsuchfalseorfabricatedevidence,thepersonwhogives
orfabricatessuchfalseevidence,shallbepunishedwithdeath
ii. givesorfabricatesfalseevidenceintendingtherebytocause,orknowingittobelikelythathewill
therebycause,anymemberofaScheduledCasteoraScheduledTribetobeconvictedofan
offencewhichisnotcapitalbutpunishablewithimprisonmentforatermofsevenyearsor
upwards,shallbepunishablewithimprisonmentforatermwhichshallnotbelessthansixmonths
butwhichmayextendtosevenyearsorupwardsandwithfine
iii. commitsmischiefbyfireoranyexplosivesubstanceintendingtocauseorknowingittobelikely
thathewilltherebycausedamagetoanypropertybelongingtoamemberofaScheduledCaste
oraScheduledTribe,shallbepunishablewithimprisonmentforatermwhichshallnotbeless
thansixmonthsbutwhichmayextendtosevenyearsandwithfine
iv. commitsmischiefbyfireoranyexplosivesubstanceintendingtocauseorknowingittobelikely
thathewilltherebycausedestructionofanybuildingwhichisordinarilyusedasaplaceofworship
orasaplaceforhumandwellingorasaplaceforcustodyofthepropertybyamemberofa
ScheduledCasteoraScheduledTribe,shallbepunishablewithimprisonmentforlifeandwithfine
v. commitsanyoffenceundertheIndianPenalCode(45of1860)punishablewithimprisonmentfora
termoftenyearsormoreagainstapersonorpropertyonthegroundthatsuchpersonisa
memberofaScheduledCasteoraScheduledTribeorsuchpropertybelongstosuchmember,
shallbepunishablewithimprisonmentforlifeandwithfine
vi. knowinglyorhavingreasontobelievethatanoffencehasbeencommittedunderthisChapter,causes
anyevidenceofthecommissionofthatoffencetodisappearwiththeintentionofscreeningtheoffender
fromlegalpunishment,orwiththatintentiongivesanyinformationrespectingtheoffencewhichhe
knowsorbelievestobefalse,shallbepunishablewiththepunishmentprovidedforthatoffenceor
vii. beingapublicservant,commitsanyoffenceunderthissection,shallbepunishablewithimprisonmentfor
atermwhichshallnotbelessthanoneyearbutwhichmayextendtothepunishmentprovidedforthat
offence

4.Punishmentforneglectofduties
Whoever,beingapublicservantbutnotbeingamemberofaScheduledCasteoraScheduledTribe,wilfully
neglectshisdutiesrequiredtobeperformedbyhimunderthisAct,shallbepunishablewithimprisonmentfora
termwhichshallnotbelessthansixmonthsbutwhichmayextendtooneyear.

5.Enhancedpunishmentforsubsequentconviction
Whoever,havingalreadybeenconvictedofanoffenceunderthisChapterisconvictedforthesecondoffenceor
anyoffencesubsequenttothesecondoffence,shallbepunishablewithimprisonmentforatermwhichshallnot
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belessthanoneyearbutwhichmayextendtothepunishmentprovidedforthatoffence.

6.ApplicationofcertainprovisionsoftheIndianPenalCode
SubjecttotheotherprovisionsofthisAct,theprovisionsofsection34,ChapterIII,ChapterIV,ChapterV,
ChapterVA,Section149andChapterXXIIIoftheIndianPenalCode(45of1860),shall,sofarasmaybe,
applyforthepurposesofthisActastheyapplyforthepurposesoftheIndianPenalCode.

7.Forfeitureofpropertyofcertainpersons
1. WhereapersonhasbeenconvictedofanyoffencepunishableunderthisChapter,theSpecialCourtmay,
inadditiontoawardinganypunishment,byorderinwriting,declarethatanyproperty,movableor
immovableorboth,belongingtotheperson,whichhasbeenusedforthecommissionofthatoffence,
shallstandforfeitedtoGovernment.
2. WhereanypersonisaccusedofanyoffenceunderthisChapter,itshallbeopentotheSpecialCourt
tryinghimtopassanorderthatalloranyoftheproperties,movableorimmovableorboth,belongingto
him,shall,duringtheperiodofsuchtrial,beattached,andwheresuchtrialendsinconviction,the
propertysoattachedshallbeliabletoforfeituretotheextentitisrequiredforthepurposeofrealisation
ofanyfineimposedunderthisChapter.

8.Presumptionastooffences
InaprosecutionforanoffenceunderthisChapter,ifitisprovedthat
a. theaccusedrenderedanyfinancialassistancetoapersonaccusedof,orreasonablysuspectedof
committing,anoffenceunderthisChapter,theSpecialCourtshallpresume,unlessthecontraryis
proved,thatsuchpersonhadabettedtheoffence
b. agroupofpersonscommittedanoffenceunderthisChapterandifitisprovedthattheoffence
committedwasasequeltoanyexistingdisputeregardinglandoranyothermatter,itshallbepresumed
thattheoffencewascommittedinfurtheranceofthecommonintentionorinprosecutionofthecommon
object.

9.ConfermentPowers
1. NotwithstandinganythingcontainedintheCodeorinanyotherprovisionofthisAct,theState
Governmentmay,ifitconsideritnecessaryorexpedientsotodo
a. forthepreventionofandforcopingwithanyoffenceunderthisAct,or
b. foranycaseorclassorgroupofcasesunderthisAct,
inanydistrictorpartthereof,confer,bynotificationintheOfficialGazette,onanyofficeroftheState
Government,thepowersexercisablebyapoliceofficerundertheCodeinsuchdistrictorpartthereofor,
asthecasemaybe,forsuchcaseorclassorgroupofcases,andinparticular,thepowersofarrest,
investigationandprosecutionofpersonsbeforeanySpecialCourt.
2. AllofficerofpoliceandallotherofficersofGovernmentshallassisttheofficerreferredtoinsubsection
(1)intheexecutionoftheprovisionsofthisActoranyrule,schemeorordermadethereunder.
3. TheprovisionsoftheCodeshall,sofarasmaybe,applytotheexerciseofthepowersbyanofficer
undersubsection(1).

CHAPTERIII:EXTERNMENT
10.Removalofpersonlikelytocommitoffence
a. WheretheSpecialCourtissatisfied,uponacomplaint,orapolicereportthatapersonislikelytocommit
anoffenceunderChapterIIofthisActinanyareaincludedin'ScheduledAreas'or'tribalareas',as
referredtoinarticle244oftheConstitution,itmay,byorderinwriting,directsuchpersontoremove
himselfbeyondthelimitsofsucharea,bysuchrouteandwithinsuchtimeasmaybespecifiedinthe
order,andnottoreturntothatareafromwhichhewasdirectedtoremovehimselfforsuchperiod,not
exceedingtwoyears,asmaybespecifiedintheorder.
b. TheSpecialCourtshall,alongwiththeorderundersubsection(1)communicatetothepersondirected
underthatsubsectionthegroundsonwhichsuchorderhasbeenmade.
c. TheSpecialCourtmayrevokeormodifytheordermadeundersubsection(1),forthereasonstobe
recordedinwriting,ontherepresentationmadebythepersonagainstwhomsuchorderhasbeenmade
orbyanyotherpersononhisbehalfwithinthirtydaysfromthedateoftheorder.

11.Procedureonfailureofpersontoremovehimselffromareaandenterthereon
afterremoval
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1. Ifapersontowhomadirectionhasbeenissuedundersection10toremovehimselffromanyarea
a. failstoremovehimselfasdirectedor
b. havingsoremovedhimselfenterssuchareawithintheperiodspecifiedintheorder,
otherwisethanwiththepermissioninwritingoftheSpecialCourtundersubsection(2),theSpecialCourt
maycausehimtobearrestedandremovedinpolicecustodytosuchplaceoutsidesuchareaasthe
SpecialCourtmayspecify.
2. TheSpecialCourtmay,byorderinwriting,permitanypersoninrespectofwhomanorderundersection
10hasbeenmade,toreturntotheareafromwhichhewasdirectedtoremovehimselfforsuch
temporaryperiodandsubjecttosuchconditionsasmaybespecifiedinsuchorderandmayrequirehim
toexecuteabondwithorwithoutsuretyforthedueobservationoftheconditionsimposed.
3. TheSpecialCourtmayatanytimerevokeanysuchpermission.
4. Anypersonwho,withsuchpermission,returnstotheareafromwhichhewasdirectedtoremovehimself
shallobservetheconditionsimposed,andattheexpiryofthetemporaryperiodforwhichhewas
permittedtoreturn,orontherevocationofsuchpermissionbeforetheexpiryofsuchtemporaryperiod,
shallremovehimselfoutsidesuchareaandshallnotreturntheretowithintheunexpiredportionspecified
undersection10withoutafreshpermission.
5. Ifapersonfailstoobserveanyoftheconditionsimposedortoremovehimselfaccordinglyorhavingso
removedhimselfentersorreturnstosuchareawithoutfreshpermissiontheSpecialCourtmaycause
himtobearrestedandremovedinpolicecustodytosuchplaceoutsidesuchareaastheSpecialCourt
mayspecify.

12.Takingmeasurementsandphotographs,etc.ofpersonsagainstwhomorder
undersection10ismade
1. Everypersonagainstwhomanorderhasbeenmadeundersection10shall,ifsorequiredbytheSpecial
Court,allowhismeasurementsandphotographstobetakenbyapoliceofficer.
2. Ifanypersonreferredtoinsubsection(1),whenrequiredtoallowhismeasurementsorphotographsto
betakenresistsorrefusestoallowhistakingofsuchmeasurementsorphotographs,itshallbelawfulto
useallnecessarymeanstosecurethetakingthereof.
3. Resistancetoorrefusaltoallowthetakingofmeasurementsorphotographsundersubsection(2)shall
bedeemedtobeanoffenceundersection186oftheIndianPenalCode(45of1860).
4. Whereanorderundersection10isrevoked,allmeasurementsandphotographs(includingnegatives)
takenundersubsection(2)shallbedestroyedormadeovertothepersonagainstwhomsuchorderis
made.

13.Penaltyfornoncomplianceoforderundersection10
AnypersoncontraveninganorderoftheSpecialCourtmadeundersection10shallbepunishablewith
imprisonmentforatermwhichmayextendtooneyearandwithfine.

CHAPTERIV:SPECIALCOURTS
14.SpecialCourt
Forthepurposeofprovidingforspeedytrial,theStateGovernmentshall,withtheconcurrenceoftheChief
JusticeoftheHighCourt,bynotificationintheOfficialGazette,specifyforeachdistrictaCourtofSessiontobe
aSpecialCourttotrytheoffencesunderthisAct.

15.SpecialPublicProsecutor
ForeverySpecialCourt,theStateGovernmentshall,bynotificationintheOfficialGazette,specifyaPublic
Prosecutororappointanadvocatewhohasbeeninpracticeasanadvocatefornotlessthansevenyears,asa
SpecialPublicProsecutorforthepurposeofconductingcasesinthatCourt.

CHAPTERV:MISCELLANEOUS
16.PowerofStateGovernmenttoimposecollectivefine
Theprovisionsofsection10AoftheProtectionofCivilRightsAct,1955(22of1955)shall,sofarasmaybe,
applyforthepurposesofimpositionandrealisationofcollectivefineandforallothermattersconnected
therewithunderthisAct.

17.Preventiveactiontobetakenbythelawandordermachinery
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1. ADistrictMagistrateoraSubdivisionalMagistrateoranyotherExecutiveMagistrateoranypoliceofficer
notbelowtherankofaDeputySuperintendentofPolicemay,onreceivinginformationandaftersuch
inquiryashemaythinknecessary,hasreasontobelievethatapersonoragroupofpersonsnot
belongingtotheScheduledCastesortheScheduledTribes,residinginorfrequentinganyplacewithin
thelocallimitsofhisjurisdictionislikelytocommitananoffenceorhasthreatenedtocommitany
offenceunderthisActandisoftheopinionthatthereissufficientgroundforproceeding,declaresuchan
areatobeanareapronetoatrocitiesandtakenecessaryactionforkeepingthepeaceandgood
behaviourandmaintenanceofpublicorderandtranquilityandmaytakepreventiveaction.
2. TheprovisionsofChaptersVIII,XandXIoftheCodeshall,sofarasmaybe,applyforthepurposesof
subsection(1).
3. TheStateGovernmentmay,bynotificationintheOfficialGazette,makeoneormoreschemesspecifying
themannerinwhichtheofficersreferredtoinsubsection(1)shalltakeappropriateactionspecifiedin
suchschemeorschemestopreventatrocitiesandtorestorethefeelingofsecurityamongstthe
membersoftheScheduledCastesandtheScheduledTribes.

18.Section438ofthecodenottoapplytopersonscommittinganoffenceunder
theAct
Nothinginsection438oftheCodeshallapplyinrelationtoanycaseinvolvingthearrestofanypersononan
accusationofhavingcommittedanoffenceunderthisAct

19.Section360oftheCodeortheProvisionsoftheProbationofOffendersActnot
toapplytopersonsguiltyofanoffenceundertheAct
Theprovisionsofsection360oftheCodeandtheprovisionsoftheProbationofOffendersAct,1958(20of
1958)shallnotapplytoanypersonabovetheageofeighteenyearswhoisfoundguiltyofhavingcommittedan
offenceunderthisact.

20.Acttooverrideotherlaws
SaveasotherwiseprovidedinthisAct,theprovisionsofthisActshallhaveeffectnotwithstandinganything
inconsistenttherewithcontainedinanyotherlawforthetimebeinginforceoranycustomorusageorany
instrumenthavingeffectbyvirtueofanysuchlaw.

21.DutyofGovernmenttoensureeffectiveimplementationoftheAct
1. SubjecttosuchrulesastheCentralGovernmentmaymakeinthisbehalf,theStateGovernmentshall
takesuchmeasuresasmaybenecessaryfortheeffectiveimplementationofthisAct.
2. Inparticular,andwithoutprejudicetothegeneralityoftheforegoingprovisions,suchmeasuresmay
include
i. theprovisionforadequatefacilities,includinglegalaidtothepersonssubjectedtoatrocitiesto
enablethemtoavailthemselvesofjustice
ii. theprovisionfortravellingandmaintenanceexpensestowitnesses,includingthevictimsof
atrocities,duringinvestigationandtrialofoffencesunderthisAct
iii. theprovisionfortheeconomicandsocialrehabilitationofthevictimsoftheatrocities
iv. theappointmentofofficersforinitiatingorexercisingsupervisionoverprosecutionsforthe
contraventionoftheprovisionsofthisAct
v. thesettingupofcommitteesatsuchappropriatelevelsastheStateGovernmentmaythinkfitto
assistthatGovernmentinformulationorimplementationofsuchmeasures
vi. provisionforaperiodicsurveyoftheworkingoftheprovisionsofthisActwithaviewto
suggestingmeasuresforthebetterimplementationoftheprovisionofthisAct
vii. theidentificationoftheareaswherethemembersoftheScheduledCastesandtheScheduled
Tribesarelikelytobesubjectedtoatrocitiesandadoptionofsuchmeasuressoastoensure
safetyforsuchmembers
3. TheCentralGovernmentshalltakesuchstepsasmaybenecessarytocoordinatethemeasurestaken
bytheStateGovernmentsundersubsection(1)
4. TheCentralGovernmentshall,everyyear,placeonthetableofeachHouseofParliamentareporton
themeasurestakenbyitselfandbytheStateGovernmentsinpursuanceoftheprovisionsofthissection.

22.Protectionofactiontakeningoodfaith
Nosuit,prosecutionorotherlegalproceedingsshalllieagainsttheCentralGovernmentoragainsttheState
GovernmentoranyofficerorauthorityofGovernmentoranyotherpersonforanythingwhichisingoodfaith
doneorintendedtobedoneunderthisAct.

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23.Powertomakerules
1. TheCentralgovernmentmay,bynotificationintheOfficialGazette,makerulesforcarryingoutthe
purposesofthisAct.
2. EveryrulemadeunderthisActshallbelaid,assoonasmaybeafteritismade,beforeeachHouseof
Parliament,whileitisinsessionforatotalperiodofthirtydayswhichmaybecomprisedinonesession
orintwoormoresuccessivesessions,andif,beforetheexpiryofthesessionimmediatelyfollowingthe
sessionorthesuccessivesessionsaforesaid,bothHousesagreeinmakinganymodificationintheruleor
bothHousesagreethattheruleshouldnotbemake,theruleshallthereafterhaveeffectonlyinsuch
modifiedformorbeofnoeffect,asthecasemaybeso,however,thatanysuchmodificationor
annulmentshallbewithoutprejudicetothevalidityofanythingpreviouslydoneunderthatrule.
V.S.RAMADEVI,
Secy.totheGovt.ofIndia.
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