Allahabad High Court: Referring to Person by Their Profession Not an Offence Under SC/ST Act

The Allahabad High Court recently held that merely referring to a person by their profession does not automatically attract the SC/ST Act.

The Court clarified that an offence is only made out if such words are used intentionally to humiliate a member of the SC/ST community.

In this case, a woman alleged that her employer used casteist slurs when she demanded her wages for washing clothes. The Court noted a contractual relationship existed, and the term used related to her work.

Consequently, the Court quashed the summons under the SC/ST Act while allowing proceedings for criminal intimidation to continue.

[Harshit @ Honey v. State of U.P. & Anr.]