The Allahabad High Court has determined that the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) Act cannot be applied solely based on the complainant’s caste identity. The court emphasised the necessity for meeting specific legal criteria for an offence to be considered under this Act. This ruling emerged from a criminal appeal lodged by Raju Kuraishi and four other individuals, leading to the dismissal of proceedings against them under the SC/ST Act.

Details of the Case

During the proceedings, Justice Santosh Rai highlighted that the fundamental issue at hand was related to a property dispute. The plaintiff’s classification as belonging to a Scheduled Caste was the only justification presented for invoking the SC/ST Act. The court found the assertion unsubstantiated by evidence, illustrating that there was no relevant material within the first information report (FIR) or associated case records to prove that the defendants had utilised caste-related derogatory terms against the complainant or had subjected him to derogatory or humiliating treatment due to his caste identity.

Justice Rai noted, “So far as the offence under the SCST Act is concerned, there is no material in the FIR or case diary to indicate that the accused-applicant used any caste-based words or abused, insulted or humiliated the victim on the ground of his belonging to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe.” The court underscored that tangible evidence is vital when invoking such specific legal protections.

In addition to evaluating the evidence, the court underscored that the conflict essentially stemmed from dealings regarding a disputed property sale. This focus on the transaction indicated that the charges of caste-based misconduct were unwarranted, as the root of the dispute lay in property rights rather than any caste-related incidents.

Continuing Legal Proceedings

The court’s decision on September 8, 2026, resulted in the quashing of the proceedings against the accused under the SC/ST Act, thereby directing that the accused be discharged from those specific charges. Consequently, the proceedings pending against them at the special SC/ST court located in Ghaziabad were also annulled.

However, the judgement made clear that legal actions related to other offences, including cheating, would persist. This duality in proceedings illustrates that while caste identity alone cannot invoke the SC/ST Act, other existing allegations can still warrant prosecution. The FIR, which noted the initial complaint, was lodged at the Loni police station in Ghaziabad, marking a significant development in this legal case.

This ruling may have implications for future cases invoked under the SC/ST Act, reinforcing the standard that mere identification with a Scheduled Caste or Tribe is insufficient to classify an incident as an offence under this legislation. The emphasis placed on the need for clear evidence could influence how similar cases are approached and adjudicated in the future.

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