THE PROTECTION OF CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, 1955
(Act No. 22 of 1955)
[8th May 1955]
CONTENTS
1. Short title, extent and commencement
2. Definitions
3. Punishment for enforcing religious disabilities
4. Punishment for enforcing social disabilities
5. Punishment for refusing to admit person to hospitals, etc
6. Punishment for refusing to sell goods or render services
7. Punishment for other offences arising out of “untouchability”
7A. Unlawful compulsory labour when to be deemed to be a practice
of untouchability”
8. Cancellation or suspension of licences in certain cases
9. Resumption or suspension of grants made by Government
10. Abatement of offence
10-A. Power of State Government to impose collective fine
11. Enhanced penalty on subsequent conviction
12. Presumption by Courts in certain cases
13. Limitation of jurisdiction of Civil Courts
14. Offences by Companies
14A. Protection of action taken in good faith
15. Offences to be cognizable and triable summarily
15A. Duty of State Government to ensure that the rights accruing
from the abolition of “untouchability” may be availed
of by the concerned person
16. Act to override other laws
16A. Probation of Offenders Act, 1958, not to apply to persons
above the age of fourteen years
16B. Power to make rules
17. Repeal
The Schedule
THE PROTECTION OF CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, 1955
An Act to prescribe punishment for the 1[preaching and practice
of “Untouchability”] for the enforcement of any disability
arising there form and for matters connected therewith.
Be it enacted by Parliament in the Sixth Year of the Republic
of India as follows:
1. Subs. by Act No. 106 of 1976, for, “practice of Untouchability”.
1. Short title, extent and commencement-
(1) This Act may be called 1[the Protection of Civil Rights Act,]
1955.
(2) It extends to the whole of India.
(3) It shall come into force on such date 2 as the Central Government
may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
1. Subs. by Act No. 106 of 1976 for “The Untouchability
(Offences) Act”.
2. 1st June, 1955.
2. Definitions. -In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,
-
1[(a) “Civil rights” means any rights accruing to
a person by reason of the abolition of “Untouchability”
by article 17 of the Constitution;]
2[(aa) “Hotel” includes a refreshment room, a boarding
house, a lodging house, a coffee house and a cafe;
3[(b) “Place” includes a house, building and other
structure and premises, and also includes a tent, vehicle and
vessel;]
(c) “Place of public entertainment” includes any
place to which the public are admitted and in which as entertainment
is provided or held.
Explanation-”Entertainment” includes any exhibition,
performance, game, sport and any other form of amusement;
(d) “Place of public worship” means a place, by whatever
name known, which is used as a place of public religious worship
or which is dedicated generally to, or is used generally by persons
professing any religion or belonging to any religious denomination
or any section thereof, for the performance of any religious service,
or for offering prayers therein 4[and includes-
(i) All lands and subsidiary shrines appurtenant or attached
to any such place:
(ii) A privately owned place of worship which is, fact, allowed
by the owner thereof to be used as a place of public worship;
and
(iii) Such land or subsidiary shrine appurtenant to such privately
owned place, of worship as is allowed by the owner thereof to
be used as a place of public religious worship;]
5[(da) “Prescribed” means prescribed by rules made
under this Act;
(db) “Scheduled Castes” has the meaning assigned
to it in clause (24) of article 366 of the Constitution;]
(e) “Shop” means any premises where goods are sold
either wholesale or by retail or both wholesale and by retail
4[and includes-
(i) Any place from where goods are sold by a hawker or vendor
or from a mobile van or cart;
(ii) A laundry and a hair cutting saloon;
(iii) Any other place where services are rendered to customers].
1. Ins. by Act No. 106 of 1976.
2. Clause (a) relettered u clause (aa) by Act No. 106 of 1976.
3. Subs. by Act No. 106 of 1976 for clause (b).
4. Ins. by Act No. 106 of 1976.
5. Subs. by Act No. 106 of 1976.
3. Punishment for enforcing religious disabilities. -Whoever
on the ground of “untouchability” prevents any person-
(a) From entering any place of public worship which is open to
other persons professing the same religion 1[* * *] or any section
thereof, as such person, or
(b) From worshipping or offering prayers or performing any religious
service in any place of public worship, or bathing in, or using
the waters of, any sacred tank, well, spring or water course 2[rivers
or lake or bathing at any ghat of such tank, water-course, river
or lake] in the same manner and to the same extent as is permissible
to the other persons professing the same religion 1[* * *] or
any section thereof, as such person. 2[shall be punishable with
imprisonment for a team of not less than one month and not more
than six months and also with fine which shall be not less than
one hundred rupees and not more than five hundred rupees].
Explanation. -For the purposes of this section and Section 4
persons professing the Buddhist, Sikh or Jaina religion or persons
professing the Hindu religion in any of its forms or development
including Virashaivas, Lingayats, Adivassis, followers of Brahmo,
Prarthana, Arya Samaj and the Swaminaryan Sampraday shall be deemed
to be Hindus.
1. Certain words omitted by Act No. 106 of 1976.
2. Ins. by Act No. 106 of 1976.
4. Punishment for enforcing social disabilities. -Whoever on
the ground of untouchability” enforces against any person
any disability with regard to-
(i) Access to any shop, public restaurant, hotel or place of
public entertainment; or
(ii) The use of any utensils, and other articles kept in any
public restaurant, hotel, dharmshala, sarai or musafirkhana for
the use of the general public or of 1[any section thereof]; or
(iii) The practice of any profession or the carrying on of any
occupation, trade or business 2[or employment in any job]; or
(iv) The use of, or access to, any river, stream, spring, well,
tank, cistern, water-tap or other watering place, or any bathing
ghat, burial or cremation ground, any sanitary convenience, any
road, or passage, or any other place or public resort which other
members of the public or 1[any section thereof] have a right to
sue or have access to; or
(v) The use of, or access to, any place used for a charitable
or a public purpose maintained wholly or partly out of State funds
or dedicated to the use of the general public or 1[any section
thereof; or
(vi) The enjoyment of any benefit under a charitable trust created
for the benefit of the general public or of 1[any section thereof];
or
(vii) The use of, or access to, any public conveyance; or
(viii) The construction, acquisition, or occupation of any residential
premises in any locality, whatsoever; or
(ix) The use of any dharamshala, sarai or musafirkhana which
is open to the general public or to 1[any section thereof]; or
(x) The, observance of any social or religious custom, usage
or ceremony or 3[taking part in, or taking out, any religious,
social or cultural procession]; or
(xi) The use of jewellery and finery,
4[Shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term of not less
than one month and not more than six months and also with fine,
which shall be not less than one hundred rupees and not more than
five hundred rupees.
Explanation. -For the purposes of this section, “enforcement
of any disability” includes any discrimination on the ground
of “untouchability”.]
1. Subs. by Act No. 106 of 1976, for certain words.
2. Ins. by Act No. 106 of 1976.
3. Subs. for 'Taking part in any religious procession”
by Act No. 106 of 1976.
4. Subs. by Act No. 106 of 1976.
5. Punishment for refusing to admit person to hospitals, etc.-Whoever
on the grounds of “untouchability”. -
(a) Refuses admission to any person to any hospital, dispensary,
educational institution or any hostel 1[* * *] if such hospital,
dispensary, educational institution or hostel is established or
maintained for the benefit of the general public or any section
thereof-, or
(b) Does any act which discriminates against any such person
after admission to any of the aforesaid institutions, 2[shall
be punishable with imprisonment for a term of not less than one
months and not more than six months and also with fine which shall
be not less than one hundred rupees and not more than five hundred
rupees.]
1. Certain Words omitted by Act No. 106 of 1976.
2. Subs. by Act No. 106 of 1976.
6. Punishment for refusing to sell goods or render services.
-Whoever on the ground of “untouchability” refuses
to sell any goods or refuses to render any service to any person
at the same time and place and on the same terms and conditions
at or which such goods are sold or service are rendered to other
persons in the ordinary course of business 1[shall be punishable
with imprisonment for a term of not less than one month and not
more than six months and also with fine which shall be not less
than one hundred rupees and not more than five hundred rupees].
1. Subs. by Act No. 106 of 1976.
7. Punishment for other offences arising out of “untouchability”.
–
(1) Whoever. -
(a) Prevents any person from exercising any right accruing to
him by reason of the abolition of “untouchability”
under article 17 of the Constitution; or
(b) Molests, injures, annoys, obstructs or causes or attempts
to cause obstruction to any person in the exercise of any such
right or molests, injures, annoys or boycotts any person by reason
of his giving exercised any such right; or
(c) By words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible
representations or otherwise, incites or encourages any person
or class of persons or the public generally to practice “untouchability”
in any form whatsoever; 1[or]
2[(d) Insults or attempts to insult, on the ground of “untouchability”
a member of Scheduled Caste,]
2[shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term of not less
than one month and not more than six months, and also with fine
which shall be not less than one hundred rupees and not more than
five hundred rupees.]
3[Explanation 1]. - A person shall be deemed to boycott another
person who
(a) Refuses to let to such other person or refuses to permit
such other person, to use or occupy any house or land or refuses
to deal with, work for hire for or do business with, such other
person or to render to him or receive from him any customary service,
or refuses to do any of the said things on the terms on which
such things would be commonly done in the ordinary course of business;
or
(b) Abstains from such social, professional or business relations,
as he would ordinarily maintain with such other person.
1[Explanation II. -For the purpose of clause (c) a person shall
be deemed to incite or encourage the practice of “untouchability”.
-
(i) If he, directly or indirectly, preaches “untouchability”
or its practice in any form; or
(ii) If he justifies, whether on historical, philosophical or
religious grounds or on the ground of any tradition of the caste
system or on any other ground, the practice of “untouchability”
in any form.]
2[(1A) Whoever commits any offence against the person or property
of any individual as a reprisal or revenge for his having exercised
any right accruing to him by reason of the abolition, of “untouchability”
under article 17 of the Constitution, shall, where the offence
is punishable with imprisonment for a term exceeding two years,
be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be
less than two years and also with fine.]
(2) Whoever. -
(i) Denies to any person belonging to his community or any section
thereof any right or privilege to which such person would be entitled
as a member of such community or section, or
(ii) Takes any part in the excommunication of such person, on
the ground that such person has refused to practise “untouchability”
that such person has done any act in furtherance of the objects
of this Act, 2[shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term
of not less than one month and not more than six months, and also
with fine which shall be not less than one hundred rupees and
not more than five hundred rupees.
1. Ins. by Act No. 106 of 1976.
2. Subs. by Act No. 106 of 1976.
3. Renumbered as Explanation I by Act No. 106 of 1976.
1[7A. Unlawful compulsory labour when to be deemed to be a practice
of untouchability”. –
(1) Whoever compels any person, on the ground of “untouchability”,
to do any scavenging or sweeping or to remove any carcass or to
flay any animal, or to remove the umbilical cord or to do any
other job of a similar nature shall be deemed to have enforced
a disability arising out of “untouchability”.
(2) Whoever is deemed under sub-section (1) to have enforced
a disability arising out of “untouchability” shall
be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be
less than three months and not more than six months and also with
fine which shall not be less than one hundred rupees and not more
than five hundred rupees.
Explanation. -For the purposes of this section, “compulsion”
includes a threat of social or economic boycott.]
1. Ins. by Act No. 106 of 1976.
8. Cancellation or suspension of Licences in certain cases. -When
a person who is convicted of an offence under Section 6 holds
any licence under any law for the time being in force in respect
of any profession, trade, calling or employment in relation to
which the offence is committed, the court trying the offence may
without prejudice to any other penalty to which such person may
be liable under that section, direct that the licence shall stand
cancelled or be suspended for such period as the court may deem
fit, and every order of the court so canceling or suspending a
licence shall have effect as if it had been passed by the authority
competent to cancel or suspend the licence under any such law.
Explanation. -In this section, “licence” includes
a permit or a permission,
9. Resumption or suspension of grants made by Government. -Where
the manager or trustee of a place of public worship 1[or any educational
institution or hostel] which is in receipt of a grant of land
or money from the Government is convicted of an offence under
this Act and such conviction is not reversed or quashed in any
appeal or revision, the Government may, if in its opinion the
circumstances of the case warrant such a course, direct the suspension
or resumption of the whole or any part of such grant.
1. Ins. by Act. No. 106 of 1976.
10. Abetement of offence. -Whoever abets any offence under this
Act shall be punishable with the punishment provided for the offence.
1[Explanation. -A public servant who wilfully neglects the investigation
of any offence punishable under this Act shall be deemed to have
abetted an offence punishable under this Act.]
1. Ins. by Act. No. 106 of 1976.
1[10-A. Power of State Government to impose collective fine.
–
(1) If, after an inquiry in the prescribed manner, the State
Government is satisfied that the inhabitants of an area are concerned
in, or abetting the commission of, any offence punishable under
this Act, or harbouring persons concerned in the commission of
such offence or failing to render all the assistance in their
power to discover or apprehend the offender or offenders or suppressing
material evidence of the commission of such offence, the State
Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, impose
a collective fine on such inhabitants and apportion such fine
amongst the inhabitants who are liable collectively to pay it,
and such apportionment shall be made according to the State Government’s
judgment of the respective means of such inhabitants and in making
any such apportionment the State Government may assign a portion
of such fine to a Hindu undivided family to be payable by it:
Provided that the fine apportioned to an inhabitant shall not
be realised until the petition, if any denied by him under sub-
section (3), is disposed of.
(2) The notification made under subsection (1) shall be proclaimed
in the area by beat of drum or in such other manner as the State
Government may think best in the circumstances to bring the imposition
of the collective fine to the notice of the inhabitants of the
said area.
(3) (a) Any person aggrieved by the imposition of the collective
fine under subsection (I) or by the order of apportionment, may,
within the prescribed period, file a petition before the State
Government or such other authority as that Government may specify
in this behalf for being exempted from such fine or for modification
of the order or apportionment:
Provided that no fee shall be charged for filing such petition
(b) The State Government or the authority specified by it shall,
after giving to the petitioner a reasonable opportunity of being
heard, pass such order as it may think fit:
Provided that the amount of the fine exempted or reduced under
this section shall not be realizable from any person, and the
total fine imposed on the inhabitants of an area under subsection
(1) shall be deemed to have been reduced to that extent.
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (3), the
State Government may exempt the victims of any offence punishable
under this Act or any person who does not, in its opinion, fall
within the category of persons specified in sub-section (1) from
the liability to pay the collective fine imposed under sub-section
(1) or any portion thereof.
(5) The portion of collective fine payable by any person (including
a Hindu undivided family may be recovered in the manner provided
by the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) for the recovery
of fines imposed by a Court as if such portion were a fine imposed
by a Magistrate.]
1. Ins. by Act. No. 106 of 1976.
11. Enhanced penalty on subsequent conviction. -Whoever having
already been convicted of an offence under this Act or of an abatement
of such offence is again convicted of any such offence or abetment,
1[shall, on conviction, be punishable. -
(a) For the second offence, with imprisonment for a term of not
less than six months and not more than one year, and also with
fine which shall be not less than two hundred rupees and not more
than five hundred rupees;
(b) For the third offence or any offence subsequent to the third
offence with imprisonment for a term of not less than one year
and not more than two years, and also with fine which shall be
not less than five hundred rupees and not more than one thousand
rupees.]
1. Subs. by Act No. 106 of 1976, for certain words .
12. Presumption by Courts in certain cases. -Where any act constituting
an offence under the Act is committed in relation to a member
of a Scheduled Castle 1[***] the Court shall presume, unless the
contrary is proved, that such act was committed on the ground
of “untouchability”.
1. Certain words omitted by Act No. 106 of 1976.
13. Limitation of jurisdiction of Civil Courts. –
(1) No Civil Court shall entertain or continue any suit or proceeding
or shall pass any decree or order if the claim involved in such
suit or proceeding or if the passing of such decree or order or
if such execution would in any way contrary to the provisions
of this Act.
(2) No Court shall, in adjudicating any matter or executing any
decree or order, recognize any custom or usage imposing any disability
on any person on the ground of “untouchability”.
14. Offences by Companies. –
(1) If the person committing an offence under this Act is a company,
every person who at the time the offence was committed was in
charge of, and was responsible to the company for the conduct
of the business of the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of
the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished
accordingly:
Provided that nothing contained in this subsection shall render
any such person liable to any punishment, if he proves that the
offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised
all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in subsection (1) where
an offence under this Act has been committed with the consent
of any director or manager, secretary or other officer of the
company, such director manager, secretary or other officer shall
also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable
to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. -
Explanation. -For the purposes of this section. -
(a) “Company” means any body corporate and includes
a firm or other association of individuals; and
(b) “Director” in relation to a firm means a partner
in the firm.
1[14A. Protection of action taken in good faith. –
(1) No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie
against the Central Government or a State Government for anything
which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this
Act.
(2) No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Central
Government or a, State Government for any damage caused or likely
to be caused by anything which is in good faith done or intended
to be done under this Act.]
1. Ins. by Act No. 106 of 1976.
1[15. Offences to be cognizable and triable summarily. –
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), every offence punishable under this
Act shall be cognizable and every such offence, except where it
is punishable with imprisonment for a minimum term exceeding three
months, may be tried summarily by a Judicial Magistrate of the
First Class or in a metropolitan area by a Metropolitan Magistrate
in accordance with the procedure specified in the said code.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), when any public servant is alleged
to have committed the offence of abetment of an offence punishable
under this Act, while acting or purporting to act in the discharge
of his official duty, no Court shall take cognizance of such offence
of abetment except with the previous sanction. -
(a) Of the Central Government, in the case of a person employed
in connection with the affairs of the Union; and
(b) Of the State Government, in the case of a person employed
in connection with the affairs of a State.
1. Subs. by Act No. 106 of 1976.
15A. Duty of State Government to ensure that the rights accruing
from the abolition of “untouchability” may be availed
of by the concerned person: –
(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 subsection (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 tip 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 form such areas.
(3) The Central Government shall take such steps as may be necessary
to co-ordinate the measures taken by the State Government 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 provision
of this section.]
16. Act to override other laws. -Save as otherwise expressly
provided in this Act, the provision of this Act shall have effect
notwithstanding any thing inconsistent therewith contained in
any other law for the time being in force, or any custom or usage
or any instrument having effect by virtue of any such law or any
decree or order of any Court or other authority.
1[16A. Probation of Offenders Act, 1958, not to apply to persons
above the age of fourteen years. -The provisions of the Probation
of Offenders Act, 1958 (20 of 1958), shall not apply to any person
above the age of fourteen years who is found guilty committed
any offence punishable under this Act.
1. Ins. by Act. No. 106 of 1976.
16B. Power to make rules. –
(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act.
(2) Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act
shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each
House of Parliament while it is in session for a total period
of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two
or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the
session immediately following the session or the successive sessions
aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the
rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the
rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or
be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such
modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity
of anything previously done under that rule.]
17. Repeal. -The enactments specified in the Schedule are hereby
repealed to the extent to which they or any of the provisions
contained therein correspond or are repugnant to this Act or to
any of the provisions contained therein.
THE SCHEDULE
(See Section 17)
1. The Bihar Harijan (Removal of Civil Disabilities) Act, 1949
(Bihar Act XIX of 1949).
2. The Bombay Harijan (Removal of Social Disabilities) Act, 1946
(Bombay Act X of 1947).
3. The Bombay Harijan Temple Entry Act, 1947 (Bombay Act XXXV
of 1947).
4. The Central Provinces and Berar Scheduled Castes (Removal
of Civil Disabilities) Act, 1947 (Central Provinces and Berar
Act XXIV of 1947).
5. The Central Provinces and Berar Temple Entry Authorisation
Act, 1947 (Central Provinces and Berar Act, XLI of 1947).
6. The East Punjab (Removal of Religious and Social Disabilities)
Act, 1948 (East Punjab Act XVI of 1948).
7. The Madras Removal of Civil Disabilities Act, 1938 (Madras
Act XXI of 1938).
8. The Orissa Removal Of Civil Disabilities Act, 1946 (Orissa
Act XI of 1946).
9. The Orissa Temple Entry Authorisation Act, 1948 (Orissa Act
XI of 1948).
10. The United Provinces Removal of Social Disabilities Act,
1947 (U.P. Act XIV Of 1947).
11. The West Bengal Hindu Social Disabilities Removal Act, 1948
(West Bengal Act XXXVII of 1948).
12. The Hyderabad Harijan Temple Entry Regulations, 1358 F (No.
LV of 1358 Fasli).
13. The Hyderabad Harijan (Removal Of Social Disabilities) Regulation,
1358 F (No. LVI of 1385 Fasli).
14. The Madhya Bharat Harijan Ayogta Nivaran Vidhan, Samvat 2005
(Madhya Bharat Act No. 15 Of 1949).
15. The Removal of Civil Disabilities Act, 1943 (Mysore Act XLII
of 1943).
16. The Mysore Temple Entry Authorisation Act, 1948 (Mysore Act
XIV of 1948).
17. The Saurashtra Harijan (Removal Of Social Disabilities) Ordinance
(No. XL of 1948).
18. The Travancore Cochin Removal of Social Disabilities Act,
1125K (Travancore Cochin Act VIII of 1125).
19. The Travancore-Cochin Temple Entry (Removal of Disabilities)
Act, 1950 (Travancore-Cochin Act XXVII of 1950).
20. The Coorg Scheduled Castes (Removal of Civil and Social Disabilities)
Act, 1949 (Coorg Act I of 1949).
21. The Coorg Temple Entry Authorisation Act, 1949 (Coorg Act
11 of 1949),
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