THE PROTECTION OF CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, 1955 
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ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 
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SECTIONS 

1.  Short title, extent and commencement. 
2.  Definitions. 
3.  Punishment for enforcing religious disabilities. 
4.  Punishment for enforcing social disabilities. 
5.  Punishment for refusing to admit person to hospitals, etc. 
6.  Punishment for refusing to sell goods or render services. 
7.  Punishment for other offences arising out of “untouchability”. 
7A. Unlawful compulsory labour when to be deemed to be a practice of “untouchability”. 
8.  Cancellation or suspension of licences in certain cases. 
9.  Resumption or suspension of grants made by Government. 
10.  Abetment of offence. 
10A. Power of State Government to impose collective fine. 
11.  Enhanced penalty on subsequent conviction. 
12.  Presumption by Courts in certain cases. 
13.  Limitation of Jurisdiction of Civil Courts. 
14.  Offences by companies. 
14A. Protection of action taken in good faith. 
15.  Offences to be cognizable and triable summarily. 
15A. Duty of State Government to ensure that the rights accruing from the abolition of 

“untouchability” may be availed of by the concerned persons. 

16.  Act to override other laws. 
16A. Probation of Offenders Act, 1958, not to apply to persons above the age of fourteen years. 
16B. Power to make rules. 
17.  Repeal. 

THE SCHEDULE. 

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THE PROTECTION OF CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, 1955 

ACT NO. 22 OF 19551 

An  Act  to  prescribe  punishment  for  the 2[preaching  and  practice  of  “Untouchability”]  for  the 

enforcement of any disability arising therefrom and for matters connected therewith. 

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows:— 

1.  Short  title,  extent  and  commencement.—(1)  This  Act  may  be  called 3[the  Protection  of  Civil          

[8th May, 1955.] 

Rights Act], 1955. 

(2) It extends to the whole of India. 

(3)  It  shall  come  into  force  on  such  date4 as  the  Central  Government  may,  by  notification  in  the 

Official Gazette, appoint. 

2. Definitions.—In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— 

5 [(a) “civil  rights”  means  any  right  accruing  to  a  person  by  reason  of  the  abolition  of 

“untouchability” by article 17 of the Constitution;] 

6[(aa)] “hotel” includes a refreshment room, a boarding house, a lodging house, a coffee house 

and a cafe; 

7[(b) “place” includes a house, building and other structure and premises; and also includes a tent, 

vehicle and vessel;] 

(c) “place  of  public  entertainment”  includes  any  place  to  which  the  public  are  admitted  and  in 

which an entertainment is provided or field. 

Explanation.—“Entertainment” includes any exhibition performance, game, sport and any other 

form of amusement; 

(d) “place of public worship” means a place, by whatever name known, which is used as a place 
of  public  religious  worship  or  which  is  dedicated  generally  to,  or  is  used  generally  by  persons 
professing  any  religion  or  belonging  to  any  religious  denomination  or  any  section  thereof,  for  the 
performance of any religious service, or for offering prayers therein, 8[and includes— 

(i) all lands and subsidiary shrines appurtenant or attached to any such place; 

(ii) a privately owned place of worship which is, in fact, allowed by the owner thereof to be 

used as a place of public worship; and 

(iii) such land or subsidiary shrine appurtenant to such privately owned place of worship as is 

allowed by the owner thereof to be used as a place of public religious worship;] 

1. Extended to Goa, Daman and Diu with modification by Reg. 12 of 1962, s. 3 and Schedule; to Dadra and Nagar Haveli by 

Reg.  6  of  1963,  s.  2  and  Schedule  I  (w.e.f.  1st  July,  1965)  and  to  Pondicherry  by  Reg.  7  of  1963,  s.  3  and  Schedule  I           
(w.e.f. 1st October, 1963). 

2. Subs. by Act 106 of 1976, s. 2, for “practice of Untouchability” (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 
3. Subs. by s. 3, ibid., for “the Untouchability (Offences) Act” (w.e.f. 19-11-1976).  
4.  1st  June,  1955,  vide  notification  No.  S.R.O.  1109(E),  dated  the  23rd  May,  1955,  see  Gazette  of  India,  1955,  Extraordinary          

Part II, s. 3. 

5. Ins. by Act 106 of 1976, s. 4 (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 
6. Clause (a) relettered as clause (aa) by s. 4, ibid. (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 
7. Subs. by s. 4, ibid., for clause (b) (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 
8. Subs. by s. 4, ibid., for certain words (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 

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1[(da) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act; 

(db) “Scheduled  Castes”  has  the  meaning  assigned  to  it  in  clause  (24)  of  article  366  of  the 

Constitution;] 

(e) “shop”  means  any  premises  where  goods  are  sold  either  wholesale  or  by  retail  or  both 

wholesale and by retail 2[and includes— 

(i) any place from where goods are sold by a hawker or vendor or from a mobile van or cart; 

(ii) a laundry and a hair cutting saloon; 

(iii) any other place where services are rendered to customers]. 

3.  Punishment  for  enforcing  religious  disabilities.—Whoever  on  the  ground  of  “untouchability” 

prevents any person— 

(a) from entering any place of public worship which is open to other persons professing the same 

religion 3* * * or any section thereof, as such person; or 

(b)  from  worshipping  or  offering  prayers  or  performing  any  religious  service  in  any  place  of 
public  worship,  or  bathing  in,  or  using  the  waters  of,  any  sacred tank,  well,  spring  or  water-course 
4[river or lake or bathing at any ghat of such tank, water-course, river or lake] in the same manner and 
and to the same extent as is permissible to the other persons professing the same religion 3* * * or any 
section thereof, as such person, 

5[shall  be  punishable  with  imprisonment  for  a  term  of  not  less  than  one  month  and  not  more  than  six 
months and also with fine which shall be not less than one hundred rupees and not more than five hundred 
rupees]. 

Explanation.—For the purposes of this section and section 4 persons professing the Buddhist, Sikh or 
Jaina  religion  or  persons  professing  the  Hindu  religion  in  any  of  its  forms  or  developments  including 
Virashaivas,  Lingayats,  Adivasis,  followers  of  Brahmo,  Prarthana,  Arya  Samaj  and  the  Swaminarayan 
Sampraday shall be deemed to be Hindus. 

4.  Punishment  for  enforcing  social  disabilities.—Whoever  on  the  ground  of  “untouchability” 

enforces against any person any disability with regard to— 

(i) access to any shop, public restaurant, hotel or place of public entertainment; or 

(ii) the  use  of  any  utensils,  and  other  articles  kept in any  public restaurant,  hotel, dharamshala, 

sarai or musafirkhana for the use of the general public or of 6[any section thereof]; or 

(iii) the  practice  of  any  profession  or  the  carrying  on  of  any  occupation,  trade  or                    

business 7[or employment in any job]; or 

(iv) the  use  of,  or  access  to,  any  river,  stream,  spring,  well,  tank,  cistern,  water-tap  or  other 
watering place, or any bathing ghat, burial or cremation ground, any sanitary convenience, any road, 

1. Ins. by Act 106 of 1976, s. 4 (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 
2. Subs. by s. 4, ibid., for certain words (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 
3. The words “or belonging to the same religious denomination” omitted by s. 5, ibid. (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 
4. Ins. by s. 5, ibid. (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 
5. Subs. by s. 5, ibid., for certain words (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 
6. Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for certain words (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 
7. Ins. by s. 6, ibid. (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 

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or  passage, or  any  other  place of public  resort  which other  members  of the  public, or 1[any  section 
thereof], have a right to use or have access to; or 

(v) the use of, or access to, any place used for a charitable or a public purpose maintained wholly 

or partly out of State funds or dedicated to the use of the general public or 1[any section thereof]; or 

(vi) the  enjoyment  of  any  benefit  under  a  charitable  trust  created  for  the  benefit  of  the  general 

public or of 1[any section thereof]; or 

(vii)   the use of, or access to, any public conveyance; or 

(viii) the  construction,  acquisition,  or  occupation  of  any  residential  premises  in  any  locality, 

whatsoever; or 

(ix) the  use  of  any dharamshala,  sarai or musafirkhana which  is  open  to  the  general  public,  or 

to 1[any section thereof]; or 

(x) the  observance  of  any  social  or  religious  custom,  usage  or  ceremony  or 2[taking  part  in,  or 

taking out, any religious, social or cultural procession]; or 

(xi) the use of jewellery and finery, 

3[shall  be  punishable  with  imprisonment  for  a  term  of  not  less  than  one  month  and  not  more  than  six 
months and also with fine which shall be not less than one hundred rupees and not more than five hundred 
rupees]. 

4 [Explanation.—For  the  purposes  of  this  section,  “enforcement  of  any  disability”  includes  any 

discrimination on the ground of “untouchability”.] 

5.  Punishment  for  refusing  to  admit  person  to  hospitals,  etc.—Whoever  on  the  ground  of 

“untouchability”— 

(a)  refuses  admission  to  any  person  to  any  hospital,  dispensary,  educational  institution  or  any 
hostel 5***, if such hospital, dispensary, educational institution or hostel is established or maintained 
for the benefit of the general public or any section thereof; or 

(b)  does  any  act  which  discriminates  against  any  such  person  after  admission  to  any  of  the 

aforesaid institutions, 

6[shall  be  punishable  with  imprisonment  for  a  term  of  not  less  than  one  month  and  not  more  than  six 
months and also with fine which shall be not less than one hundred rupees and not more than five hundred 
rupees]. 

6.  Punishment  for  refusing  to  sell  goods  or  render  services.—Whoever  on  the  ground  of 
“untouchability” refuses to sell any goods or refuses to render any service to any person at the same time 
and place and on the same terms and conditions at or which such goods are sold or services are rendered 
to other persons in the ordinary course of business 7[shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term of 
not less than one month and not more than six months and also with fine which shall be not less than one 
hundred rupees and not more than five hundred rupees]. 

7. Punishment for other offences arising out of “untouchability”.—(1) Whoever— 

(a) prevents any person from exercising any right accruing to him by reason of the abolition of 

“untouchability” under Article 17 of the Constitution; or 

1. Subs. by Act 106 of 1976, s. 6, for certain words (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 
2. Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for “taking part in any religious procession” (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 
3. Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for certain words (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 
4. Ins. by s. 6, ibid. (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 
5. The words “attached thereto” omitted by s. 7, ibid. (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 
6. Subs. by s. 7, ibid., for certain words (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 
7. Subs. by s. 8, ibid., for certain words (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 

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(b) molests, injures, annoys, obstructs or causes or attempts to cause obstruction to any person in 
the  exercise  of  any  such  right  or  molests,  injures,  annoys  or  boycotts  any  person  by  reason  of  his 
having exercised any such right; or 

(c)  by  words,  either  spoken  or  written,  or  by  signs  or  by  visible  representations  or  otherwise, 
incites  or  encourages  any  person  or  class  of  persons  or  the  public  generally  to  practice 
“untouchability” in any form whatsoever; 1[or] 

1[(d) insults  or  attempts  to  insult,  on  the  ground  of “untouchability”,  a  member  of  a  Scheduled 

Caste;] 

2[shall  be  punishable  with  imprisonment  for  a  term  of  not  less  than  one  month  and  not  more  than  six 
months,  and  also  with  fine  which  shall  be  not  less  than  one  hundred  rupees  and  not  more  than  five 
hundred rupees]. 

3[Explanation I ].—A person shall be deemed to boycott another person who— 

(a) refuses to let to such other person or refuses to permit such other person, to use or occupy any 
house or land or refuses to deal with, work for hire for, or do business with, such other person or to 
render to him or receive from him any customary service, or refuses to do any of the said things on 
the terms on which such things would be commonly done in the ordinary course of business; or 

(b) abstains from such social, professional or business relations as he would ordinarily maintain 

with such other person. 
1[Explanation II.—For the purpose of clause (c) a person shall be deemed to incite or encourage the 

practice of “untouchability”— 

(i)  if he, directly or indirectly, preaches “untouchability” or its practice in any form; or 

(ii) if he 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.] 
1[(1A) Whoever commits any offence against the person or property of any individual as a repraisal or 
revenge for his having exercised any right accruing to him by reason of the abolition of “untouchability” 
under article 17 of the Constitution, shall, where the offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term 
exceeding two years, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than two years 
and also with fine.] 

(2) Whoever— 

(i) denies to any person belonging to his community or any section thereof any right or privilege 

to which such person would be entitled as a member of such community or section, or 

(ii) takes any part in the ex-communication of such person, on the ground that such person has 
refused to practice “untouchability” that such person has done any act in furtherance of the objects of 
this Act, 

[shall  be  punishable  with  imprisonment  for  a  term  of  not  less  than  one  month  and  not  more  than  six 
months and also with fine which shall be not less than one hundred rupees and not more than five hundred 
rupees.] 

4[7A. Unlawful compulsory labour when to be deemed to be a practice of “untouchability”.—(1) 
(1) Whoever compels any person, on the ground of “untouchability”, to do any scavenging or sweeping or 

1. Ins. by Act 106 of 1976, s. 9, (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 
2. Subs. by s. 9, ibid., for certain words (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 
3. The existing Explanation renumbered as Explanation I  by s. 9, ibid., (w.e.f 19-11-1976). 
4. Ins. by s. 10, ibid.  (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 

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to remove any carcass or to flay any animal, or to remove the umbilical cord or to do any other job of a 
similar nature shall be deemed to have enforced a disability arising out of “untouchability”. 

(2)  Whoever  is  deemed  under  sub-section  (1)  to  have  enforced  a  disability  arising  out  of 
“untouchability”  shall  be  punishable  with  imprisonment  for  a  term  which  shall  not  be  less  than  three 
months and not more than six months and also with fine which shall not be less than one hundred rupees 
and not more than five hundred rupees. 

Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, “compulsion” includes a threat of social or economic 

boycott.] 

8. Cancellation or suspension of licences in certain cases.—When a person who is convicted of an 
offence  under  section  6  holds  any  licence  under  any  law  for  the  time  being  in  force  in  respect  of  any 
profession, trade, calling or employment in relation to which the offence is committed, the court trying 
the  offence  may  without  prejudice  to  any  other  penalty  to  which  such  person  may  be  liable  under  that 
section,  direct  that  the  licence  shall  stand  cancelled  or  be  suspended  for  such  period  as  the  court  may 
deem fit, and every order of the court so cancelling or suspending a licence shall have effect as if it had 
been passed by the authority competent to cancel or suspend the licence under any such law. 

Explanation.—In this section, “licence” includes a permit or a permission. 

9. Resumption or suspension of grants made by Government.—Where the manager or trustee of a 
place of public worship 1[for any educational institution or hostel] which is in receipt of a grant of land or 
money from the Government is convicted of an offence under this Act and such conviction is not reversed 
or quashed in any appeal or revision, the Government may, if in its opinion the circumstances of the case 
warrant such a course, direct the supension or resumption of the whole or any part of such grant. 

10.  Abetment  of  offence.—Whoever abets any offence under this Act shall be punishable with the 

punishment provided for the offence. 

2[Explanation.— A public servant who wilfully neglects the investigation of any offence punishable 

under this Act shall be deemed to have abetted an offence punishable under this Act.] 

3[10A.  Power  of  State  Government  to  impose  collective  fine.—(1)  If,  after  an  inquiry  in  the 
prescribed manner, the State Government is satisfied that the inhabitants of an area are concerned in, or 
abetting the commission of, any offence  punishable under this Act, or  harbouring persons concerned in 
the  commission  of  such  offence  or  failing  to  render  all  the  assistance  in  their  power  to  discover  or 
apprehend the offender or offenders or suppressing material evidence of the commission of such offence, 
the  State  Government  may,  by  notification  in  the  Official  Gazette,  impose  a  collective  fine  on  such 
inhabitants and apportion such fine amongst the inhabitants who are liable collectively to pay it, and such 
apportionment shall be made according to the State Government’s judgment of the respective means of 
such inhabitants  and  in  making  any  such  apportionment the  State  Government may  assign  a  portion  of 
such fine to a Hindu undivided family to be payable by it: 

Provided that the fine apportioned to an inhabitant shall not be realised until the petition, if any, filed 

by him under sub-section (3), is disposed of. 

(2) The notification made under sub-section (1) shall be proclaimed in the area by beat of drum or in 
such other manner as the State Government may think best in the circumstances to bring the imposition of 
the collective fine to the notice of the inhabitants of the said area. 

1. Ins. by Act 106 of 1976, s. 11, ibid. (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 
2. Ins. by s. 12, ibid. (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 
3. Ins. by s. 13, ibid. (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 

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(3) (a) Any person aggrieved by the imposition of the collective fine under sub-section (1) or by the 
order of apportionment, may, within the prescribed period, file a petition before the State Government or 
such other authority as that Government may specify in this behalf for being exempted from such fine or 
for modification of the order or apportionment: 

Provided that no fee shall be charged for filing such petition. 

(b)  The  State  Government  or  the  authority  specified  by  it  shall,  after  giving  to  the  petitioner  a 

reasonable opportunity of being heard, pass such order as it may think fit: 

Provided that the amount  of the fine exempted or reduced under this section shall not be realisable 
from any person, and the total fine imposed on the inhabitants of an area under sub-section (1) shall be 
deemed to have been reduced to that extent. 

(4)  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  sub-section  (3),  the  State  Government  may  exempt  the 
victims of any offence punishable under this Act or any person who does not, in its opinion, fall within 
the category of persons specified in sub-section (1), from the liability to pay the collective fine imposed 
under sub-section (1) or any portion thereof. 

(5) The portion of collective fine payable by any person (including a Hindu undivided family) may be 
recovered in the manner provided by the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), for the recovery 
of fines imposed by a Court as if such portion were a fine imposed by a Magistrate.] 

11.  Enhanced  penalty  on  subsequent  conviction.—Whoever having already been convicted of an 
offence  under  this  Act  or  of  an  abetment  of  such  offence  is  again  convicted  of  any  such  offence  or 
abetment, 1[shall, on conviction, be punishable— 

(a) for the second offence, with imprisonment for a term of not less than six months and not more 
than one year, and also with fine which shall be not less than two hundred rupees and not more than 
five hundred rupees; 

(b) for the third offence or any offence subsequent to the third offence with imprisonment for a 
term of not less than one year and not more than two years, and also with fine which shall be not less 
than five hundred rupees and not more than one thousand rupees]. 

12. Presumption by Courts in certain cases.—Where any act constituting an offence under this Act 
is  committed  in  relation  to  a  member  of  a  Scheduled  Caste 2***,  the  Court  shall  presume,  unless  the 
contrary is proved, that such act was committed on the ground of “untouchability”. 

13. Limitation of Jurisdiction of Civil Courts.—(1) No Civil Court shall entertain or continue any 
suit or proceeding or shall pass any decree or order if the claim involved in such suit or proceeding or if 
the passing of such decree or order or if such execution would in any way be contrary to the provisions of 
this Act. 

(2) No Court shall, in adjudicating any matter or executing any decree or order, recognise any custom 

or usage imposing any disability on any person on the ground of “untouchability”. 

14. Offences by companies.—(1) If the person committing an offence under this Act is a company, 
every  person  who  at  the  time  the  offence  was  committed  was in  charge  of,  and  was  responsible to  the 
company for the conduct of the business of the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and 
shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly: 

1. Subs. by Act 106 of 1976, s. 14, for certain words (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 
2. The words, brackets and figures “as defined in clause (24) of article 366 of the Constitution” omitted by s. 15, ibid.                   

(w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 

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Provided  that  nothing  contained  in  this  sub-section  shall  render  any  such  person  liable  to  any 
punishment, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all 
due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence. 

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has been 
committed with the consent of any director or manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such 
director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be 
liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. 

Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,— 

(a) “company” means any body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals; 

and 

(b) “director” in relation to a firm means a partner in the firm. 

1[14A. Protection of action taken in good faith.—(1) No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding 
shall lie against the Central Government or a State Government for anything which is in good faith done 
or intended to be done under this Act. 

(2) No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Central Government or a State Government 
for any damage caused or likely to be caused by anything which is in good faith done or intended to be 
done under this Act.] 

2[15. Offences to be cognizable and triable summarily.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained 
in the  Code  of  Criminal  Procedure,  1973  (2 of  1974),  every  offence  punishable  under this  Act  shall  be 
cognizable and every such offence, except where its punishable with imprisonment for a minimum term 
exceeding  three  months,  may  be  tried  summarily  by  a  Judicial  Magistrate  of  the  first  class  or  in  a 
metropolitan  area  by  a  Metropolitan  Magistrate  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  specified  in  the  said 
Code. 

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), when 
any public servant is alleged to have committed the offence of abetment of an offence punishable under 
this  Act,  while  acting  or  purporting  to  act  in  the  discharge  of  his  official  duty,  no  Court  shall  take 
cognizance of such offence of abetment except with the previous sanction— 

(a) of the Central Government, in the case of a person employed in connection with the affairs of 

the Union; and 

(b) of the State Government, in the case of a person employed in connection with the affairs of a 

State. 

15A.  Duty  of  State  Government  to  ensure  that  the  rights  accruing  from  the  abolition  of 
“untouchability”  may  be  availed  of  by  the  concerned  persons.—(1)  Subject  to  such  rules  as  the 
Central Government may make in this behalf, the State Government shall take such measures as may be 
necessary for ensuring that the rights arising from the abolition of “untouchability” are made available to, 
and are availed of by the persons subjected to any disability arising out of “untouchability”. 

(2) In  particular,  and  without  prejudice  to  the  generality  of  the  provisions  of  sub-section  (1),  such 

measures may include— 

(i)  the  provision  of  adequate  facilities,  including  legal  aid,  to  the  persons  subjected  to  any 

disability arising out of “untouchability” to enable them to avail themselves of such rights; 

1. Ins. by Act 106 of 1976, s. 16 (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 
2. Subs. by s. 17, ibid., for s. 15 (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 

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(ii) the appointment of officers for initiating or exercising supervision over prosecutions for the 

contravention of the provisions of this Act; 

(iii) the setting up of special courts for the trial of offences under this Act; 

(iv) the setting up of Committees at such appropriate levels as the State Government may think fit 

to assist the State Government in formulating or implementing such measures; 

(v)  provision  for  a  periodic  survey  of  the  working  of  the  provisions  of this  Act  with  a  view  to 

suggesting measures for the better implementation of the provisions of this Act; 

(vi)  the  identification  of  the  areas  where  persons  are  under  any  disability  arising  out  of 
“untouchability” and adoption of such measures as would ensure the removal of such disability from 
such areas. 

(3)  The  Central  Government  shall  take  such  steps  as  may  be  necessary  to  coordinate  the  measures 

taken by the State Governments under sub-section (1). 

(4)  The  Central  Government  shall,  every  year,  place  on  the  Table  of  each  House  of  Parliament,  a 
report on the measures taken by itself and by the State Governments in pursuance of the provisions of this 
section.] 

16. Act to override other laws.—Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, the provisions of 
this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for 
the time being in force, or any custom or usage or any instrument having effect by virtue of any such law 
or any decree or order of any Court or other authority. 

1[16A.  Probation  of  Offenders  Act,  1958,  not  to  apply  to  persons  above  the  age  of  fourteen 
years.—The  provisions  of  the  Probation  of  Offenders  Act,  1958  (20  of  1958),  shall  not  apply  to  any 
person above the age of fourteen years who is found guilty of having committed any offence punishable 
under this Act.] 

16B.  Power  to  make  rules.—(1)  The  Central  Government  may,  by  notification  in  the  Official 

Gazette, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act. 

(2) Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it 
is made, before each House of Parliament while it is in session for a total period of thirty days which may 
be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session 
immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any 
modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter 
have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such 
modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under 
that rule.] 

17.  Repeal.—The  enactments  specified  in  the  Schedule  are  hereby  repealed  to  the  extent  to  which 
they or any of the provisions contained therein correspond or are repugnant to this Act or to any of the 
provisions contained therein. 

1. Ins. by Act 106 of 1976, s. 18 (w.e.f. 19-11-1976). 

9 

 
 
 
                                                           
THE SCHEDULE 

(See section 17) 

  1. The Bihar Harijan (Removal of Civil Disabilities) Act, 1949 (Bihar Act XIX of 1949). 

  2. The Bombay Harijan (Removal of Social Disabilities) Act, 1946 (Bombay Act X of 1947). 

  3. The Bombay Harijan Temple Entry Act, 1947 (Bombay Act XXXV of 1947). 

  4.  The  Central  Provinces  and  Berar  Scheduled  Castes  (Removal  of  Civil  Disabilities)  Act,  1947 

(Central Provinces and Berar Act XXIV of 1947). 

  5. The Central Provinces and Berar Temple Entry Authorisation Act, 1947 (Central Provinces and 

Berar Act XLI of 1947). 

  6. The East Punjab (Removal of Religious and Social Disabilities) Act, 1948 (East Punjab Act XVI     

of 1948). 

  7. The Madras Removal of Civil Disabilities Act, 1938 (Madras Act XXI of 1938). 

  8. The Orissa Removal of Civil Disabilities Act, 1946 (Orissa Act XI of 1946). 

  9. The Orissa Temple Entry Authorisation Act, 1948 (Orissa Act XI of 1948). 

10. The United Provinces Removal of Social Disabilities Act, 1947 (U.P. Act XIV of 1947). 

11. The  West  Bengal  Hindu  Social  Disabilities  Removal  Act,  1948  (West  Bengal  Act  XXXVII          

of 1948). 

12. The Hyderabad Harijan Temple Entry Regulations, 1358 F (No. LV of l358 Fasli). 

13. The Hyderabad Harijan (Removal of Social Disabilities)  Regulations, 1358F (No. LVI of 1358. 

Fasli). 

14. The Madhya Bharat Harijan Ayogta Nivaran Vidhan, Samvat 2005 (Madhya Bharat Act No. 15    

of 1949). 

15. The Removal of Civil Disabilities Act, 1943 (Mysore Act XLII of 1943). 

16. The Mysore Temple Entry Authorisation Act, 1948 (Mysore Act XIV of 1948). 

17. The Saurashtra Harijan (Removal of Social Disabilities) Ordinance (No. XL of 1948). 

18. The Travancore-Cochin Removal of Social Disabilities Act, 1125K (Travancore-Cochin Act VIII 

of 1125). 

19. The  Travancore-Cochin  Temple  Entry  (Removal  of  Disabilities)  Act,  1950  (Travancore-Cochin 

Act XXVII of 1950). 

20. The Coorg Scheduled Castes (Removal of Civil and Social Disabilities) Act, 1949 (Coorg Act I  

of 1949). 

21. The Coorg Temple Entry Authorisation Act, 1949 (Coorg Act II of 1949). 

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