Calcutta HC Landmark Ruling: Not Every Insult to SC/ST Member is 'Atrocity' - Punjabi News

Published on: 13 Feb 2026 at 09:24 AM

Calcutta HC Landmark Ruling: Not Every Insult to SC/ST Member is ‘Atrocity’

Published by: thefactnews

Calcutta HC Landmark Ruling: Not Every Insult to SC/ST Member is ‘Atrocity’

Kolkata, February 13, 2026
Calcutta High Court delivered major verdict curbing SC/ST Act misuse. Court clarified every dispute/insult against SC/ST person doesn’t qualify as atrocity under the Act. Justice Chaitali Chatterjee Das ruled atrocities apply only for public humiliation based on caste.

Case Background

University Sanskrit Dept Dispute:

Petitioner: Dept Head (HOD)
Complainant: Assistant Professor

Allegations: HOD excluded from decisions, barred exam duties, insulted in online meetings – claimed caste-based discrimination. Police filed chargesheet under SC/ST Act Section 3(1)(r).

Court’s Key Observations

Professional Dispute vs Caste Atrocity: Administrative/work disagreements ≠ caste-based crimes
Public View Essential: Section 3(1)(r) requires humiliation in public presence – no evidence here
Intentional Discrimination: No material proved insults solely due to caste

Final Verdict

Court quashed chargesheet citing Supreme Court precedents (Hitesh Verma, Swarn Singh cases).

Relief for Institutions: Protects education/office administrators from misuse, drawing clear line between administrative decisions & caste atrocities.