NEW DELHI: The top Court on Friday agreed to hear the Centre's plea seeking review of its March 20 verdict. This did away with the provision of obligatory arrest under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The SC verdict diluting the arrest provision had led to nation-wide shakeup by Dalits and tribals claimed several lives. In its review petition, the Centre had said a bench of Justices A K Goel and U U Lalit had erred by taking into account high incidence of acquittals in cases lodged under the Act to arrive at a conclusion that catch provision of the law was being tainted through perky complaints.

On Appearing before a bench headed by Justice Goel, attorney general K K Venugopal said the Centre had lodged its written submissions in the case and it was full-grown for consideration. The bench decided for an urgent hearing and posted it for May 3. The AG informed the court that four states had discretely filed petitions seeking review of the March 20 ruling.

The Centre had said that the facts and data demonstrate weak execution of the Act. This could not lead to dilution of the constitutional deterrent punishment to permit accused get bail and terrorize Dalit and tribal victims and witnesses to put off them from proceeding with their complaints against accused.