Division bench referred petitions challenging ST/SC Act 2018 to three judges Bench of SC

Supreme Court its verdict on March 20, 2018, had held that public servants cannot be arrested immediately after a complaint if filed against them under the Scheduled Castes and The Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 . In a huge protest against the Supreme Court order in April 2018, at least 11 people died and hundreds were detained. After this, the Centre moved the Supreme court to seek a review of this order, and then the Parliament passed an amendment bill in August 2018 to reverse the verdict.

The amendments said no preliminary inquiry will be needed to file a criminal case and an arrest under this law would not be subject to any approval.