Abolition of Untouchability: “Untouchability” is abolished and it’s practice in any form is forbidden. The enforcement of any disability arising only of “Untouchability” shall be an offence in accordance with law (Article 17 of the Constitution of India).

Protection of life and personal liberty: No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law (Article 21).

Prohibition of traffic in human being and forced labour: Traffic in human beings and beggar and other similar forms of forced labour are prohibited and any contraventions of this provision shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law (Article 23).

Prohibition of enforcement of children in factories: No child below the age of fourteen years shall be employed to work in any factory or mine or engaged in any other hazardous employment (Article 24).

Promotion of educational and economic interests of SC/STs and other Weaker Sections: Promoting educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, in particular, of the Schedule Castes and the Schedule Tribes and protecting them from social injustice and all forms of exploitations (Article 46).

With an eye to eradicating pervasive discrimination practised against Weaker sections, the Central Government enacted the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 (PCR Act) to enforce the abolition of “untouchability” under Article 17 of the Constitution. The PCR Act punishes, the offences that amount to the observance of “untouchability.” These include, inter alia, prohibiting entry into places of worship, denying access to shops and other public places, denying access to any water supply, prohibiting entry into hospitals, refusing to sell goods or render services, and insulting someone on the basis of his or her caste.

The greatest deficiency of the Protection of Civil Rights Act was the fact that abuses against Dalits were not limited to name-calling or denial of entry into public spaces. Violence was a defining characteristic of the abuse. Thirty-four years after the introduction of the PCR Act, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, was enacted to bring these other forms of abuse to an end.

Offences under the Act are cognizable—an officer can arrest without a warrant and the offence is non-bailable. Provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code regarding anticipatory bail do not apply.