Workplace disputes not automatically offences under SC/ST Act : Calcutta High Court

Kolkata (West Bengal) – Professional disagreements, administrative disputes, or allegations of insult arising in the workplace cannot be automatically treated as offences under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. For an offence to be made out under this law, it must be clearly established that the insult or abuse was caste-based and occurred in a public place, the Calcutta High Court has ruled.

In this case, the Court allowed the continuation of proceedings under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, but quashed the charges framed under Section 3(1)(r) of the SC/ST Act.

1. The case relates to a female professor from a Sanskrit college and university, who had earlier served as the Head of the Sanskrit Department. A complaint was filed against her by an assistant professor from the same university, who belongs to a Scheduled Caste community. He alleged that the former Head of Department deliberately excluded him from departmental decision-making, stopped his teaching duties, obstructed departmental work, and used insulting language during an online meeting. He further claimed that these actions were taken specifically because of his caste.

2. The Court observed that the allegations in the complaint primarily stem from professional and administrative disagreements. The records do not reveal any concrete or specific accusation indicating that the alleged insult was caste-based or made in a public setting.

3. The Court clearly stated that to establish an offence under Section 3(1)(r), there must be intentional, caste-based abuse or humiliation carried out publicly. Mere workplace conflicts or the fact that the accused was aware of the complainant’s caste are not sufficient grounds to invoke the provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.