07, Aug 2026 | CJP Team

Parliament enacted the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in 1989 to recognise that caste-based violence is not an ordinary crime.
Over the years, the law has been strengthened through amendments, new safeguards and stronger protections for victims.
Yet caste atrocities continue to be reported across India.

Based on the Human Rights Advocacy and Research Foundation’s comprehensive review of the Act, this explainer examines where the justice system breaks down, why implementation remains uneven, and what this means for Dalit and Adivasi communities.

This video also draws on CJP’s reporting and legal interventions documenting the continuing struggle for equal access to justice.

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