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Caste atrocities (SC/ST Act)Possibly — unconfirmed

Possibly — unconfirmed

Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.

Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed

§ 3(1) — listed atrocities (e.g. forcing inedible / obnoxious substances; intentional insult / intimidation to humiliate in public view; preventing voting; causing physical harm / mental agony on a witchcraft allegation; social / economic boycott)Possibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment: 6 months–5 years
Fine: Fine (amount not stated in section)

Minimum 6 months. Applies only where the offender is not a member of a Scheduled Caste / Tribe.

§ 3(2)(i) — giving / fabricating false evidence leading to conviction of a member for a capital offencePossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment: Life; death if an innocent person is executed
Fine: Fine (amount not stated in section)

§ 3(2)(iv) — committing mischief by fire to a dwelling / place of worship / property of a memberPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment: Life
Fine: Fine (amount not stated in section)

Figure reported from secondary summaries; re-check against the Act.

§ 3(2)(v) — committing any offence punishable with 10 years or more, on caste / tribe grounds, against a memberPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment: Life
Fine: Fine (amount not stated in section)

Figure reported from secondary summaries; re-check against the Act.

§ 4 — public servant (not SC / ST) wilfully neglecting duties under the ActPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment: 6 months–1 year
Fine: Fine (amount not stated in section)

Note on this entry

§ 3(2) tiers are enhancement-style: where the underlying offence already carries a higher punishment under another law, the Act escalates it. The tiers below cover the headline § 3(1) atrocities and the § 3(2) escalations most often charged.

Source

Statute: Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 § 3
Official source: Legal-Veda / Testbook summaries of the SC/ST Act (not India Code)
Verification status: India Code could not be read directly; § 3(1) and § 3(2)(i) corroborated from two independent summaries; §§ 3(2)(iv)–(v) and § 4 rest on single summaries and need re-check.
Last verified: 2026-10-19

Not legal advice. This range is the statutory penalty as written in the law — it is not “your sentence.” What is NOT accounted for here: Priors, plea, judicial discretion; BNS charges for the underlying act (hurt, assault, etc.) laid alongside. If you face a real charge, consult a licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.