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The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955

Central

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.

Act number
22 of 1955
Ministry
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Department
Department of Social Justice and Empowerment
Enacted
8 May 1955

Source: IndiaCode Portal, Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. Open on India Code Check against the official text before relying on it.

23 sections

  1. Section 1Short title, extent and commencement.
  2. Section 2Definitions.
  3. Section 3Punishment for enforcing religious disabilities.
  4. Section 4Punishment for enforcing social disabilities.
  5. Section 5Punishment for refusing to admit person to hospitals, etc.
  6. Section 6Punishment for refusing to sell goods or render services.
  7. Section 7Punishment for other offences arising out of "untouchability".
  8. Section 7AUnlawful compulsory labour when to be deemed to be a practice of "untouchability".
  9. Section 8Cancellation or suspension of licences in certain cases.
  10. Section 9Resumption or suspension of grants made by Government.
  11. Section 10Abetment of offence.
  12. Section 10APower of State Government to impose collective fine.
  13. Section 11Enhanced penalty on subsequent conviction.
  14. Section 12Presumption by Courts in certain cases.
  15. Section 13Limitation of Jurisdiction of Civil Courts.
  16. Section 14Offences by companies.
  17. Section 14AProtection of action taken in good faith.
  18. Section 15Offences to be cognizable and triable summarily.
  19. Section 15ADuty of State Government to ensure that the rights accruing from the abolition of "untouchability" may be availed of by the concerned persons.
  20. Section 16Act to override other laws.
  21. Section 16AProbation of Offenders Act, 1958, not to apply to persons above the age of fourteen years.
  22. Section 16BPower to make rules.
  23. Section 17Repeal.