Condemning the decision to amend the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989, members of various Dalit outfits and organisations staged a demonstration here on Tuesday.
Led by P.P. Palanisamy, district secretary, Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front, members said that the Supreme Court had laid down stringent norms before registering a case under the SC/ST Act that was in place from 1989. They wanted both the Central government and the Supreme Court to annex the Act to the 9th Schedule of the Constitution.
Members of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Aadi Tamilar Peravai, Aadi Tamilar Katchi, Aadi Tamilar Makkal Katchi, Bahujan Samaj Katchi, Tamil Puligal, Viduthalai Vengai, Arundadiyar Ilaignar Peravai, Democratic Youth Federation of India has formed the federation to call for strengthening the Act.