Supreme Court Rules: Abuse Alone Not an Offence Under SC/ST Act

ବ୍ୟବସାୟ

ଡିଜିଟାଲ ଭାରତରେ ସେକେଣ୍ଡରେ ପେମେଣ୍ଟ, କିନ୍ତୁ ଠକେଇ ମଧ୍ୟ ତେଜିତ

April 18, 2026

କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ସରକାରୀ କର୍ମଚାରୀ ଓ ପେନ୍ସନର୍ମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ 2% ଡିଏ...

April 18, 2026

ସୁପ୍ରିମ କୋର୍ଟ ସନ୍ଦେସରା ଠକେଇ ମାମଲା ବନ୍ଦ କଲା, ₹9,800...

April 18, 2026

କାଗଜରେ ନିୟମିତ, ପ୍ରୟୋଗରେ ଦୁର୍ବଳ: କିପରି ଶ୍ରମ ଆଇନକୁ ନିରବରେ...

April 18, 2026

ରାଶିଫଳ

ସାପ୍ତାହିକ ରାଶିଫଳ (ଏପ୍ରିଲ୍ 13 – 19): କ୍ୟାରିୟର, ଧନ...

April 13, 2026

Supreme Court Rules: Abuse Alone Not an Offence Under SC/ST Act

The Supreme Court cancelled criminal proceedings against Keshav Mahato, who was accused of abusing a Scheduled Caste individual at an Anganwadi centre, ruling that abuse alone does not constitute an offence under the SC/ST Act.

Published by Abhishek Swain | January 20, 2026

The Supreme Court has ruled that mere use of abusive language against a person from a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe does not constitute an offence under the SC/ST Act unless it is specifically intended to humiliate the individual based on caste. The ruling came as the court cancelled criminal proceedings against Keshav Mahato, accused of abusing a Scheduled Caste individual at a Bihar Anganwadi centre, noting that neither the FIR nor the chargesheet alleged caste-based intent.

Citing Section 3(1)(r) of the SC/ST Act, the court clarified that two conditions must be met for conviction: the victim must belong to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, and the abuse or insult must be motivated by caste. Justices JB Pardiwala and Alok Aradhe highlighted that both the trial court and Patna High Court erred in allowing the case to proceed without allegations of caste-based insult or threat.