Act Number: 22

Act Name: The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955

Year: 1955

Enactment Date: 1955-05-08

Long Title: An Act to prescribe punishment for the preaching and practice of Untouchability for the enforcement of any disability arising therefrom and for matters connected therewith.

Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

Department: Department of Social Justice and Empowerment

Section 15A: Duty of State Government to ensure that the rights accruing from the abolition of "untouchability" may be availed of by the concerned persons.
    (1) Subject to such rules as the Central Government may make in this behalf, the State Government shall take such measures as may be necessary for ensuring that the rights arising from the abolition of "untouchability" are made available to, and are availed of by the persons subjected to any disability arising out of "untouchability".
     (2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1), such measures may include—
         (i) the provision of adequate facilities, including legal aid, to the persons subjected to any disability arising out of "untouchability" to enable them to avail themselves of such rights;
         (ii) the appointment of officers for initiating or exercising supervision over prosecutions for the contravention of the provisions of this Act;
         (iii) the setting up of special courts for the trial of offences under this Act;
         (iv) the setting up of Committees at such appropriate levels as the State Government may think fit to assist the State Government in formulating or implementing such measures;
         (v) provision for a periodic survey of the working of the provisions of this Act with a view to suggesting measures for the better implementation of the provisions of this Act;
         (vi) the identification of the areas where persons are under any disability arising out of "untouchability" and adoption of such measures as would ensure the removal of such disability from such areas.
     (3) The Central Government shall take such steps as may be necessary to coordinate the measures taken by the State Governments under sub-section (1).
     (4) The Central Government shall, every year, place on the Table of each House of Parliament, a report on the measures taken by itself and by the State Governments in pursuance of the provisions of this section.]
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