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1994 Supreme(MP) 261
1994 JLJ 372
U.L. Bhat, C.J. and P.P. Naolekar, J.
Ram Krishna Balothia (Dr.) v. Union of India and others
M.P. No. 1748 of 1993; Decided on 25.3.1994.
V.K. Tankha, N.D. Deoras and S.L. Kochar for petitioner;
Ravindra Shrivastava for Union; Government Advocate for State.
Headnote:(1) Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 -- Act as a whole is not ultra vires -- legislature is competent to enact such law as Art. 15 (4) of the Constitution embodies the doctrine of protective discrimination.
(2) Constitution of India -- Art.15 (4) -- language used under -- cannot be understood in a narrow sense -- word "advancement" is not subject to any qualification.
Article 15 (1) confers fundamental right on every citizen, that he cannot be discriminated on the basis only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them and confers on every citizen a legally enforceable fundamental right. Article 15 (4) does not confer any fundamental right on scheduled castes or scheduled tribes, but merely confers discretionary powers on the State to make any special provision for the advancement of scheduled caste:" and scheduled tribes.
The language used in Article 15 (4) cannot be understood in a narrow sense. Article 15 (4) embodies the doctrine of protective discrimination. The word ‘advancement‘ in clause (4) of Article 15 is not subject to any qualification and by no principle of interpretation it could be said that from the context it should be construed in a restricted sense, as amounting to only social and educational advancement. The expression "special provision for the advancement" is an expression of every wide import and brings within its sweep each and every kind of advancement. This is so because scheduled castes and scheduled tribes occupy a special position in our Constitution. [Paras 7 & 8
(3) Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 -- S.3 -- not bad simply because it also operates against Muslims and Christians -- being believers in caste system or not makes no difference. AIR 1985 SC 1495 followed. [Para 11
(4) Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 -- Ss.8 (a) and 3 -- provision under S. 8 (a) -- is necessary for effective implementation of S. 3 -- presumption under S. 8 (a) being rebuttable, interest of person concerned is safeguarded.
Considering the entire purpose for which the Act has been enacted, the provision in section 8 (a) is necessry for the effective implementation of the provision in section 3 of the Act. It is necessary to prevent the moneyed persons from encouraging commission of offences under section 3, in indirect way by rendering financial assistance to hired hands to get their work done. On the other hand, the interest of such persons is safeguarded, as the presumption is rebuttable. The Act has further taken care to ensure that the powers are not misused. [Para 12
(5) Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 -- S. 18 -- provisions under barring wholesale in application of S. 438 Cr.P. C. -- offends Arts. 14 and 21 of the Constitution -- it is ultra vires.
The object of the statute is to ensure advancement of members of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes by protecting them from harassment, humiliation, disgrace, indignity, exploitation and the like by members of stronger sections of the society. This purpose is not served by whole-sale denial of the benefit of section 438 of the Code to all classes of offenders under the Act. The classification between whole classes of offenders under the Act on one hand and offenders under other laws has no nexus with the objects to be achieved by the Act. Section 18 of the Act offends Article 14 of the Constitution, AIR 1978 SC 429, AIR 1980SC 1632 and AIR 1978 SC597 followed, AIR 1993 Raj. 177 (FB) dissented from. 1988 (2) SCC 271 and 1991 (1) SCC 705 distinguished. [Paras 16 to 22
(6) Constitution of India -- Art. 21 -- life and personal liberty of citizen -cannot be condemned without fair procedure or proceedings.
Article 21 requires that there should be some form of procedure or proceedings before a person can be condemned in respect of his life or liberty. The procedure so prescribed should not be unfair, unreasonable or arbitrary. Expression "personal liberty" has to be construed to be of widest amplitude. It covers various rights which go to constitute liberty and the right of freedom. Every person has a right to remain free and that right can only be taken away by just, fair and reasonable procedure, [Para 20
(7) Criminal P.C., 1973 – S.438 -- provision for anticipatory bail under-is available to the accused under Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. [Para 22
¼1½ vuqlwfpr tkfr vkSj vuqlwfpr tutkfr ¼vR;kpkj fuokj.k½ vf/kfu;e] 1989 & vf/kfu;e laiw.kZ :Ik ls vf/kdkfjrk ugha gSa & fo/kku&eaMy ,slh fof/k vf/kfu;fer djus ds fy, l{ke gS D;ksafd lafo/kku ds vuq- 15 ¼4½ esa laj{kd foHksn dk fl)kar lfUufo"V gSA
¼2½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku & vuq-15¼4½ & mica/k ds v/khu ç;qDr Hkk"kk & ladh.kZ Hkko esa ugha le>h tk ldrh & ‘‘kCn ^^leqUufr** fdlh vgZrk ds v/;/khu ugha gSA
vuqPNsn 15 ¼1½ çR;sd ukxfjd dks ewy vf/kdkj çnku djrk gS] fd ek= /keZ] ewyoa‘k] tkfr] fyax] tUe&LFkku vFkok buesa ls fdlh ds Hkh vk/kkj ij] og foHksfnr ugha fd;k tk ldrk rFkk çR;sd ukxfjd dks fof/k }kjk çorZuh; ewy vf/kdkj çnku djrk gSA vuqPNsn 15¼4½ vuqlwfpr tkfr vFkok vuqlwfpr tutkfr dh leqUufr ds fy, dksbZ Hkh fo‘ks"k mica/k djus ds fy, jkT; dks oSosfdd ‘kfDr;k¡ ek= çnku djrk gSA
vuqPNsn 15 ¼4½ esa ç;qDr Hkk"kk ladh.kZ Hkko esa ugha le>h tk ldrhA vuqPNsn 15 ¼4½ esa laj{kd foHksn dk fl)kar lfUufo"V gSA vuqPNsn 15 ds [kaM¼4½ esa ‘‘kCn ^leqUufr* fdlh vgZrk ds v/;/khu ugha gSa rFkk fuoZpu ds fdlh Hkh fl)kar ls ;g ugha dgk tk ldrk fd ml lanHkZ ls dsoy lkekftd rFkk ‘kS{kf.kd leqUufr dh dksfV esa vkus okys] ladh.kZ Hkko esa mldk vFkkZUo;u fd;k tkuk pkfg,A og ^^leqUufr ds fy, fo‘ks"k mica/k** cgqr O;kid vk‘k; dk ‘‘kCn ç;ksx gS rFkk mlds foLrkj esa gj ,d çdkj dh leqUufr vkrh gSA ,slk blfy, gS D;ksafd gekjs lafo/kku esa vuqlwfpr tkfr;ksa rFkk vuqlwfpr tutkfr;ksa dks fo‘ks"k LFkku fn;k x;k gSA ¿iSjk 7 ,oa 8
¼3½ vuqlwfpr tkfr vkSj vuqlwfpr tutkfr ¼vR;kpkj fuokj.k½ vf/kfu;e] 1989 & /kkjk 3 & ek= blfy, nks"kiw.kZ ugha fd og eqlyeku rFkk bZlkb;ksa ds Hkh fo#) çofrZr gS & tkfr ç.kkyh esa fo‘oklh gksus u gksus ls dksbZ varj ugha vkrkA , vkb vkj 1985 ,l lh 1495 vuqlfjrA ¿iSjk 11
¼4½ vuqlwfpr vkSj tkfr vkSj vuqlwfpr tutkfr ¼vR;kpkj fuokj.k½ vf/kfu;e] 1989 & /kkjk 8 ¼d½ rFkk 3 & /kkjk 8 ¼d½ ds v/khu mica/k & /kkjk 3 ds çHkkoh dk;kZUo;u ds fy, vko‘;d gS & /kkjk 8 ¼d½ ds v/khu mi/kkj.kk [kaMuh; gksus ds dkj.k] lacaf/kr O;fDr dk fgr lqjf{kr jgrk gSA
vf/kfu;e ftlds fy, vf/kfu;fer fd;k x;k gS ml laiw.kZ ç;kstu ij fopkj djrs gq,] /kkjk 8¼d½ dk mica/k vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 3 ds çHkkoh dk;kZUo;u ds fy, vko‘;d gSA viuk dke djkus ds fy, HkkM+Sfr;ksa dks foÙkh; lgk;rk nsdj vçR;{k :Ik ls /kkjk 3 ds v/khu vijk/kksa dks çksRlkfgr djus ls /kuh O;fDr;ksa dks jksduk vko‘;d gSA nwljh vksj] ,sls O;fDr;ksa dk fgr lqjf{kr gS] D;ksafd mi/kkj.kk [kaMuh; gSA blds vfrfjDr vf/kfu;e }kjk lrdZrk cjrh xbZ fd ‘kfDr;ksa dk nq#Ik;ksx u gksA
¼5½ vuqlwfpr tkfr rFkk vuqlwfpr tutkfr ¼vR;kpkj fuokj.k½ vf/kfu;e] 1989 & /kkjk 18 ds v/khu naM çfØ;k lafgrk dh /kkjk 438 ds Qk;nksa dk ykxw gksus ds vifjfer otZu dk mica/k & lafo/kku ds vuq-14 rFkk 21 dk mYy?kaudkjh gS & ;g vf/kdkjkrhr gSA
bl dkuwu dk mís‘; vuqlwfpr tkfr;ksa rFkk vuqlwfpr tutkfr;ksa ds lnL;ksa dh lekt ds ‘kfDr‘kkyh oxZ ds lnL;ksa }kjk mRihM+u] ekugkfu] vieku] frjLdkj] ‘kks"k.k vkfn ls j{kk djds mudh mUufr lqfuf‘pr djuk gSA bl mís‘; dh iwfrZ] vf/kfu;e ds v/khu lHkh vijkf/k;ksa dks lafgrk dh 438 ds Qk;nksa ds vifjfer :Ik ls oafpr j[kus ls ugha gksrhA vf/kfu;e ds v/khu] ,d vksj vijkf/k;ksa ds leLr oxks± vkSj vU; fof/k;ksa ds v/khu vijkf/k;ksa ds oxhZdj.k dk vf/kfu;e }kjk çkIr fd, tkus okys mís‘;ksa ds lkFk dksbZ laca/k ugha gSaA vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 18 lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 14 dk mYya?ku djrh gSA , vkb vkj 1978 ,l lh 429] , vkb vkj 1980 ,l lh 1632 rFkk , vkb vkj 1978 ,l lh 597 vuqlfjrA , vkb vkj 1993 jktLFkku 177 ¼iw.kZ U;k;ihB½ folEerA 1988 ¼2½ ,l lh lh 271 rFkk 1991 ¼1½ ,l lh lh 705 çHksfnrA ¿iSjk 16 ls 22
¼6½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku & vuq-21 & ukxfjd ds çk.k vkSj nSfgd Lora=rk & _tq çfØ;k vFkok dk;Zokgh fcuk naMkfn"V ugha fd, tk ldrsA
vuqPNsn 21 esa mis{kk dh xbZ gS fd fdlh O;fDr ds çk.k vkSj Lora=rk naMkfn"V dh tk lds] blds iwoZ fdlh çdkj dh çfØ;k vFkok dk;Zokgh vko‘;d gSA bl çdkj dh fofgr çfØ;k v_tq] v;qfDr;qDr vFkok euekuh ugha gksuk pkfg,A ‘‘kCn ^^nSfgd Lora=rk* dk vFkkZUo;u mls foLr`re vk;ke nsrs gq, djuk gksxkA blesa fofHkUu vf/kdkj vkPNkfnr gksrs gSa ftuls Loraa=rk vkSj mldk vf/kdkj xfBr gksrs gSaA çR;sd O;fDr dks Lora= jgus dk vf/kdkj gS vkSj ;g vf/kdkj dsoy U;k;iw.kZ] _tq vkSj ;qfDr;qDr çfØ;k }kjk gh viâr fd;k tk ldrk gSA ¿iSjk 20
¼7½ naM çfØ;k lafgrk] 1973 & /kkjk 438 & ds v/khu vfxze tekur dk mica/k & vuqlwfpr tkfr vkSj vuqlwfpr tutkfr ¼vR;kpkj fuokj.k½ vf/kfu;e] 1985 ds v/khu vfHk;qDr dks miyaC/k gSA ¿iSjk 22
P.P. Naolekar, J. -- 1. The decision in this petition shall also govern disposal of the petitions, list of which is annexed herewith. (not reproduced)
2. The petitioners have challenged the constitutional validity of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (Act No. 33 of 1989) (for short hereinafter called the Act) in those petitions. Most of the petitioners are members of upper caste Hindus and some of them are Muslims. Offences under section 3 of the Act are registered against the petitioners along with other provisions of the Indian Penal Code.
3. The contentions raised by the petitioners for challenging the constitutional validity of the Act are: (i) the entire Act is based on caste discrimination and, therefore, infringes Article 15 (1) of the Constitution of India and it is not saved under Article 15 (4) of the Constitution; (ii) section 3 of the Act provides for punishment for offences of atrocities against persons belonging to members of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes by any person other than a member of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes which cannot be said to be a provision for advancement of the scheduled castes and tribes; (iii) section 8 (a) of the Act is vague, unclear and proposterous, inasmuch as, it tries to create a premature criminal liability in an ambiguous manner; and (iv) section 18 of the Act is violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India.
4. In order to appreciate the questions raised by the counsel for the petitioners, it is necessary and useful to refer to the broad spectrum of the Act and the statement of object and reasons. The Act was brought into force to prevent the commission of offence of atrocities against the members of the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes, to provide for Special Courts for the trial of such offence and for relief and rehabilitation of the victims of such offences and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
5. Section 2(a) defines 'Atrocity' to mean an offence punishable under section 3. Section 3 deals with the offences against members of a scheduled caste or a scheduled tribe by any person who is not a member of a scheduled caste or scheduled tribe. Section 4 lays down punishment for neglect of duties by public servant, who is not a member of scheduled caste or tribe, for wilful neglect in the performance of his duties. Section 5 contains a provision for enhanced punishment for subsequent conviction. Section 8 (a) raises a presumption as to abetment of offence. Section 10 relates to externment of persons likely to commit offences. Section 14 provides for establishment of Special Courts for the purpose of providing for speedy trial of offences under the Act. Section 15 relates to appointment of Special Public Prosecutors to conduct cases in the Special Courts. By virtue of section 18, section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is made non-operative with regard to the offences enumerated under the Act. Section 19 provides that section 360 of the Code of Criminal Procedure or the provisions of the Probation of Offenders Act shall not apply to persons found guilty of an offence under the Act. Section 21 imposes a duty on the Government to ensure effective implementation of the Act. The entire scheme of the Act is to provide protection to the members of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and to provide for special Court and speedy trial of the offences.
6. Article 15 (1) and (4) of the Constitution reads:
15 (1) The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.
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(4) Nothing in this Article or in clause (2) of Article 29 shall prevent the State from making any special provision for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled castes and Scheduled Tribes.
7. Article 15 (4) has reference to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Article 341
