The Madras High Court has held that police authorities must register an FIR when members of the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe communities complain of being dispossessed from their land, and cannot avoid doing so by merely labeling the issue as a civil dispute.
Key Takeaways
Allegations of forcible eviction, illegal occupation, intimidation, or coercion against SC/ST persons may attract offences under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
In such situations, the police are legally obligated to register a case and investigate, rather than advise the complainant to pursue civil litigation.
The Court emphasized that procedural safeguards under the Act exist to protect vulnerable communities from exploitation, and police cannot dilute them through inaction.
Land disputes involving SC/ST communities must be examined to determine whether criminal intent, threat, or caste-based targeting is involved.
Significance
The ruling reinforces that crimes affecting land rights of SC/ST persons require swift criminal investigation, ensuring statutory protection is meaningful and not reduced to a formality.
