Home minister Rajnath Singh. (AP file photo)

NEW DELHI: No institution or individual can take away the protection given to people of SC/ST communities , home minister Rajnath Singh told Rajya Sabha on Wednesday while responding to a question on what steps the government was taking to address the alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Supreme Court .

CPI leader D Raja asked what the government was doing following the apex court order that made the law “literally redundant”. Singh said, “SC/ST communities have got protection through constitutional provisions, which no institution or individual can snatch. I want to assure this to the House. Our government has taken all possible steps to ensure there is no dilution in the SC/ST Act .”

Singh said the government was in the process of setting up 194 ‘special exclusive courts’ for faster trial of cases and he was confident of more convictions in such cases.

Junior minister for home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said special exclusive courts were set up in 24 states, while special courts were established in 30 states. States should also take interest if there was delay in setting up of such courts, he added.

Lok Janshakti Party had raised the issue in the all-party meeting of NDA allies on Tuesday. LJP leader Chirag Paswan had demanded bringing amendments to prevent dilution in the SC/ST Act and to ensure reservation in promotion.

Sources said after LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan raised the UGC issue in the NDA meeting, the government put the interview process on hold. He had asked what would be the use of the amendment if all posts were filled.

