SC/ST verdict: Supreme Court agrees to hear review petition in open court

The Supreme Court today agreed to hear the Centre's review petition against its SC/ST verdict in open court.

The Attorney General sought an urgent hearing of the review petition in the matter at 2 pm today. The representative of the government told the court that there was an emergency situation in the country after the large-scale violence and loss of lives and property during yesterday's Bharat Bandh and sought urgent hearing of the review petition today itself.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra agreed to constitute the original bench of Justices A K Goel and UU Lalit at 2 pm to hear the review plea.

On March 20, the top court had introduced the provision of anticipatory bail in the SC/ST Act while directing that there would be no automatic arrest on any complaint filed under the law.The Centre on Monday filed a review petition in apex court to reconsider its order. 

 A nationwide bandh was called by Dalit outfits on Monday against the top court's ruling that allegedly dilutes the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The bandh turned violent with ten deaths reported across the country and seven in Madhya Pradesh alone.

(With inputs from PTI)