Patna: Bihar’s deputy chief minister, Vijay Kumar Sinha, has ordered an inquiry into the alleged misuse of India’s Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act after an emotional hearing in which a young man broke down while describing what he said was prolonged harassment of his family.
The incident occurred when the complainant approached Sinha with allegations that false cases under the SC/ST Act had been filed against him and his relatives. The young man claimed that the cases led to repeated police action, intimidation and physical assault, forcing him to make frequent court appearances in pursuit of relief.
According to officials present at the meeting, the complainant became visibly distressed while narrating his experience, saying that the legal battle had taken a severe toll on his family. He alleged that his father died of a heart attack while he was travelling for a court hearing and that his mother later underwent open-heart surgery. “I am the only son in the family,” he said, breaking down in tears.
Sinha described the allegations as serious and expressed anger at what he said could be a grave administrative failure. He reprimanded the district magistrate and the superintendent of police concerned, stressing that the SC/ST Act was intended to protect vulnerable communities and not to be used as a tool to harass innocent people.
“If the law has been misused, it is deeply worrying,” Sinha said, according to officials. “Any misuse of protective legislation will not be tolerated.”
He directed the administration to conduct an impartial investigation into the matter and said that strict action should be taken if the allegations were found to be true.
The episode has intensified political and administrative debate in the state. Opposition parties have accused the government of failing to maintain law and order, while the ruling administration has insisted that it will not allow injustice against innocent citizens.
