People aware of deliberations within the government at different levels say promulgating an ordinance to restore the original provisions would help calm tempers. “If an ordinance is issued, it too will have to be converted into a bill and passed by Parliament. Dalit groups had organised protests across the country on 2 April against the alleged dilution of the Act through the 20 March verdict of the Supreme Court. “I want to assure the nation that the law which has been made stringent by us will not allowed to be affected (by the SC order)...,” he had said. Venugopal said “this judgement has diluted, for the reasons stated, the provisions of the Atrocities Act read with the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, resulting in great damage to the country”.

Source: Mint April 15, 2018 07:52 UTC