The Supreme Court on Friday referred to a three-judge Bench the Centre’s petition seeking review of its March 2018 verdict that diluted stringent provisions of arrest under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act, 1989, and judicially introduced a provision for anticipatory bail in such cases.

Now, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi will constitute the three-judge Bench that will examine the controversial issue.The top court had earlier said laws in the country should be caste neutral and uniform even as the Centre sought review of the March 20, 2018, verdict that led to violent protests by SC/ST organisations across India.

The amendment has also been challenged before the top court as the petitioners alleged that both Houses of Parliament “arbitrarily” amended the SC/ST Act and restored previous provisions in such a manner so that an innocent cannot avail the his/her right to seek anticipatory bail.On January 30, the top court had refused to stay the amendments to the SC/ST Act that restored the no anticipatory bail provision.

The Centre had sought review of the verdict by which the top court had diluted the arrest provisions, taking note of rampant misuse of the stringent SC/ST Act against government servants and private individuals.

In its March 20, 2018, verdict, the top court had said “in view of the acknowledged abuse of law of arrest in cases under the Atrocities Act, arrest of a public servant can only be after approval of the appointing authority and of a non-public servant after approval by the SSP which may be granted in appropriate cases if considered necessary for reasons recorded”.