Salient provisions of the Act: - Any person who prevents a person belonging to Scheduled Caste community from entering places like a public temple, using a well, water room, hotel, inn, shall be prosecuted under the Act
- In case if a barber disagrees to cut the hair of a member belonging to Scheduled Caste or a laundryman refuses to wash his clothes, they shall also be considered as offenders under this Act.
- It would be considered an offence if a member of Scheduled Caste community is prevented from occupying a seat along with other people without any discrimination at the place of religious service or prayer at a public place in the village.
- It would also be considered an offence under this Act if a member belonging to a scheduled caste is treated with any discrimination at flour mill.
- The persons who maintain separate set of utensils for members of the Scheduled Caste at the water tank and hotel shall also be considered as offender under this Act.
- All the offences of untouchability under this Act are cognizable offences (arrest without warrant).
- There is no provision for compromise under this Act.
- A person committing an offence under this Act for the first time is punishable with a minimum of 1 month imprisonment and a fine of Rs.100 and a maximum of 6 months imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 500.
- If a person commits an offence for the second time, he is liable to be punished with imprisonment for a period from 6 months to 1 year and a fine of Rs. 200 to Rs.500.
- If a person commits an offence for the third time he is liable to be punished with imprisonment for a period from one to two years and a fine of Rs. 500 to Rs. 1000.
- If a person propagates "untouchability” or its practice in any form, an offence can be registered under this Act against such person.
- Any person who justifies, whether on historical, philosophical or religious grounds or on the ground of any tradition of the caste system or on any other ground, the practice of "untouchability” in any form, shall be considered as an offender.
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