SC/ST Atrocities and Protection — Amendments

Amendment	Year	Description	Impact
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015	2015	This amendment significantly expanded the scope of offences under the POA Act, adding new acts like social boycott, preventing access to common property resources, sexual exploitation, and forcing manual scavenging. It also enhanced punishments for existing offences and introduced a presumption of guilt if the accused knew the victim's caste/tribal identity. It mandated the establishment of exclusive Special Courts for speedy trials.	Strengthened the Act by making it more comprehensive and stringent, addressing newer forms of discrimination and violence. It aimed to make the law more victim-centric and improve conviction rates by streamlining judicial processes and expanding the definition of atrocities.
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2018	2018	This amendment was enacted to nullify the Supreme Court's judgment in *Subhash Kashinath Mahajan v. State of Maharashtra (2018)*. It inserted Section 18A into the POA Act, explicitly stating that no preliminary inquiry or prior approval is required before registering an FIR or making an arrest, and that Section 438 of CrPC (anticipatory bail) shall not apply to cases under the Act.	Restored the original stringent provisions of the POA Act regarding immediate arrest and the absolute bar on anticipatory bail, thereby reinforcing the legislative intent to provide robust protection to SC/ST communities and deter perpetrators. It ensured that procedural hurdles would not dilute the Act's effectiveness.