While protests were held in parts of the state on the SC/ST Act issue, a segment of the youth in Dehradun opined that in their view the Supreme Court had acted fairly on the issue. However, some did state that the developments could have a detrimental effect.
University student Raj Shekhar opined, “I support the ruling of the Supreme Court whereas the Bharat Bandh will end up causing a day’s worth of loss to the economy. If one wants to oppose something regarding this they should file a petition in court instead of forcefully closing shops and damaging property. I believe the BJP is acting diplomatically in view of the 2019 elections while the parties supporting the agitation also seem to be doing so for electoral gains.”
Another student Saurabh Diwedi said, “I believe the Apex Court ruling was a positive development aimed at stopping the reported exploitation of the Act. It saddens me to see people revolting like this on the streets damaging property and causing public inconvenience. Protesting organisations should find a better way to present their position in front of the authorities. The political parties should not treat this scenario as a political game,” he added.
Sociology student Brijesh Pandey opined that the SC ruling was aimed at protecting the innocent framed by the misuse of the law. “This ruling does not have anything to do with taking away the rights of the Dalit. People in our country tend to get offended very easily without understanding the whole issue which has led to protests,” he opined.
However, there are some who question the ruling. Mass communication student Aditya Kumar said, “Though the were reports of the Act being misused in some parts of the country, the protection the Act’s provisions facilitated against atrocities on SC-ST community is greater than its misuse. How can one assume that the long marginalised Dalits would have direct access to a DSP level officer in all situationsIJ Considering that many institutions are yet to be democratised in the real sense, the changes could have a detrimental effect on Dalit safety,” he opined.