Explanation:

The Supreme Court today upheld the constitutional validity of the SC/ST Amendment Act, 2018 which rules out anticipatory bail in case of atrocities against SC/STs. The Apex Court said, anticipatory bail can only be granted in cases where prima facie case is not made out. It said, a preliminary inquiry is not essential before lodging an FIR under the act nor is the approval of senior police officials. The SC/ST Amendment Act 2018 was brought to nullify the effect of a Supreme Court ruling which had diluted the provisions of the stringent Act. Earlier, on the 20th of March, 2018, taking note of rampant misuse of the stringent SC/ST Act, the top court ruled out the immediate arrest on any complaint filed under the law. Violent protests had taken place across the country after the apex court's verdict in which several persons lost their lives and many were injured.