New Delhi, Apr 2(DC): Dalit organisations across the country have called a 'Bharat Bandh' today to protest a recent Supreme Court ruling diluting the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989.
Following the 'bandh' call, Punjab government has ordered suspension of public transport services across the state.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has also postponed the Class 10 and 12 board examinations in the state today.
Punjab, which has the highest number of Dalit population, is on high alert.
Internet services in the state have been clamped down since 5 pm on Sunday and will remain suspended till 11 pm today.
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has appealed for calm and has requested the Army and paramilitary forces to be on stand-by.
The Bharat Bandh has already affected states of Bihar and Odisha, where protesters have blocked railway tracks.
Meanwhile, the Centre has filed a review petition on the matter in the Supreme Court, challenging its order banning automatic arrest and registration of cases for alleged harassment of SCs and STs.
Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "I wish to convey that today (Monday) we've filed a petition on the judgement by Supreme Court on the SC/ST act. We have filed a comprehensive review petition which will be presented before the court by the senior lawyers of the government."
The Supreme Court will later in the day hear the review plea filed by the government.
On March 20, the apex court had introduced the provision of anticipatory bail in the Act while directing that there would be no automatic arrest on any complaint filed under the law.
The court held that there is a need to provide for safeguards against registration of FIRs and arrests under the SC/ST Act in view of instances of misuse, as observed in the last three decades.
On March 20, the Supreme Court had introduced the provision of anticipatory bail in the Act while directing that there would be no automatic arrest on any complaint filed under the law.
Meanwhile, Union Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot had on Friday appealed to organisations and individuals opposing the Supreme Court's verdict on the SC/ST Act to withdraw their protests in the wake of the government's decision to file a review petition challenging the order.