The Supreme Court has refused to stay its order on the SC/ST Act, asks all parties to submit detailed replies within two days; matter to be heard after 10 days. The court said it has not diluted the law. The next hearing will be after 10 days.

The Supreme Court was hearing the Centre's plea seeking to review the March 20 verdict putting safeguards on arrest under the the stringent SC/ST Act.

The hearing began at 2 pm today.


The apex court agreed to hear the review petition after Attorney General K K Venugopal referred to large scale violence and loss of lives and property during yesterday's Bharat bandh.


A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra agreed to constitute the original bench of Justices A K Goel and U U Lalit at 2 pm to hear the review plea.


The AG said it is an emergency situation as large scale violence had taken place and sought urgent hearing of the review petition today itself. In fast changing developments, the top law officer initially mentioned the urgent hearing of the review petition before a bench headed by Justice Goel, who was sitting alongside Justice R F Nariman.


The bench agreed to hear the review petition today itself in open court but Justice Goel asked the AG to mention before the chief justice constitution of the original bench comprising him and Justice Lalit.