Protection of civil right act and rules

With the advent of freedom in India the age old custom of untouchability among Hindus attracted the attention of the Government which banned it from the public sphere through the 'Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955' which, in order to widen its scope, was amended in 1976 and was entitled "The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955'. This Act is a social legislation whose object is to check the social evil of untouchability and keep the untouchables at par with the caste Hindus. It is consistent with provisions of Article 17 of the Constitution which provides for the abolition of untouchability and forbids its practice in any form.

This book is exhaustive and up todate, yet a modest comment, on the Act. It deals with statutory changes, objects, scope, history of legislation, substantive as well as proce dural aspects, explanation, illustration, interpretation and constitutional validity of each section. Several case laws, latest rulings, relevant references, cross-references and the interpretation of statutes have been given. An attempt has been made to tackle socio-legal aspects of the problem of untouchability. In addition to these, discussions on title-short and long, preamble, statement of objects and reasons, mandatory and directory provisions, retrospectivity of the statutes, interpretation of History of Legislation, rule of ejusden generis, marginal notes and headings, section and sub-section, proviso, explanation, illustra tion, interpretation of penal statutes, and constitutional validity will be helpful to a prac tising advocate and to the Hon'ble Bench in developing a clear understanding of each section of the Act.