The Protection Of Civil Rights Act, 1955 (No. 22 of 1955)
The practice of untouchability in Society/”>Indian Society is an attribute of the hierarchical stratification of society into castes. On the one hand, the Vedic use the term “varna” (colour) to denote caste seems to indicate that the caste system began as a result of racial differences between people. On the other, the characteristic feature of the caste system is also its categorisation of the pure and the impure based on religious beliefs and division of labour. While many authors argue that the concept of an untouchable caste did not exist in the initial stages of the caste system, at some point in history, the concept of untouchability did become “a historical cohort of the caste system, but not its essence.”
Numerous policies and laws have been made over the years to tackle the issue of untouchability. This Study attempts at studying one legislative attempt in this regard, viz., the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 (PCRA). The basic difficulties of studying and improving the use of law as a tool of directed Social Change results from the fact that law by itself is the only component of a large set of policy instruments and usually cannot and is not used by itself. This caveat should be kept in mind while dealing with the problem of untouchability. The recommendations and suggestions made in this Study are solely in Light of the problems faced in the provisions and implementation of the PCRA. These recommendations will have little effect if implemented in isolation, and without the backing of other policy measures.
The following Acts are punishable under Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955:
Disability to practice Religion: Anyone who stops any person on ground of Untouchability in any of the following ways:
- To enter into the place of worship where any other person of the same religion is allowed
- To worship, to offer prayers or to perform any religious ceremony or offer any religious service or bath at worship place or to use water from the sacred tank, spring well or from any other source, in the same manner as any other person of same religion is allowed to do.
Such person shall be punished with the imprisonment for the term of atleast one month but not exceeding 6 months along with the fine of atleast 100 Rs. but not more than Rs. 500.
Social Disabilities: Whoever discriminates any person on the ground of Untouchability in any way such as:
- Access to shop, hotel, restaurant, place of public entertainment ;
- Use of utensil which are provided in the hotels, dharamshala or any other public place for the use of general public or for a specific class of people;
- To practice any profession or carry out any of the occupation, business or trade;
- The use of water from spring well, tank, river, stream, water taps or any water place, or stops using bathing ghat, sanitary convenience, burial or cremation ground, road, passage or other thing meant for general public.
Such person shall be punished with the imprisonment for the term of atleast one month but not exceeding 6 months along with the fine of atleast 100 Rs. but not more than Rs. 500.
Refusing Admission: Whoever on the ground of Untouchability denies a person admission or discriminates the person after admission in the following places: Hospital, Educational Institution, Hostel or any other public places.
Such person Shall be punished with the imprisonment for the term of atleast one month but not exceeding 6 months along with the fine of atleast 100 Rs. but not more than Rs. 500.
Refusing to sell goods or render service: Whoever on the ground of Untouchability refuses or discriminates a person in selling goods or in rendering Services with the same terms and conditions in which they rendered to the general public in the ordinary course of business.
Such person Shall be punished with the imprisonment for the term of atleast one month but not exceeding 6 months along with the fine of atleast 100 Rs. but not more than Rs. 500.
Compulsory Labour : Whoever compels any person to Sweep, scavenge, 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.
Such person shall be deemed to have practice “Untouchability” and shall be punished with the imprisonment for the term of atleast three months but not exceeding 6 months along with the fine of atleast 100 Rs. but not more than Rs. 500.
Other Offences : Such person shall be punishable under law who does any of the following:
- Prevents any person from acquiring rights provided under Art 17 of the Constitution of India; or,
- Molests, insults, boycotts30 or create an obstruction in exercising the right; or
- Molests, insults, boycotts any person who has exercised his rights; or
- By any manner, spoken or written encourages or incites31 any person to practice “Untouchability”; or
- Insults or attempts to insult any person on the ground of “Untouchability”
Such person shall be punished with the imprisonment for the term of atleast one month but not exceeding 6 months along with the fine of atleast 100 Rs. but not more than Rs. 500.
Offences done by Company: If any person who on the behalf of the Company has practiced “Untouchability”; or ii. If the Director, Manager, Secretary or any other official of the Company would have practiced “Untouchability”.
Such person may be Director, Manager, Secretary or any other Official of the Company shall be deemed to be guilty on behalf of the Company and shall be prosecuted for the offence.
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The Civil Rights Act of 1955, also known as the Public Accommodations Act, was a landmark piece of legislation that prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in places of public accommodation. The Act was passed by the United States Congress on June 19, 1955, and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on July 2, 1955.
The Civil Rights Act of 1955 was the culmination of years of struggle by civil rights activists to end segregation and discrimination in the United States. The Act was a major victory for the civil rights movement, and it helped to pave the way for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Title I of the Civil Rights Act of 1955 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in places of public accommodation. This includes hotels, restaurants, theaters, and retail stores. Title I also prohibits discrimination in the use of public facilities, such as parks, libraries, and swimming pools.
Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1955 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. This includes schools, hospitals, and other government programs.
Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1955 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in public Education. This includes public schools, colleges, and universities.
Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1955 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in the selection of jurors in federal courts.
Title V of the Civil Rights Act of 1955 contains miscellaneous provisions, such as a provision that authorizes the Attorney General to bring civil actions to enforce the Act.
The Civil Rights Act of 1955 was a major victory for the civil rights movement, and it helped to pave the way for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Act has had a profound impact on American society, and it has helped to make the United States a more just and equitable nation.
The Civil Rights Act of 1955 was not without its critics. Some people argued that the Act was an overreach of federal power, and that it would lead to increased government regulation. Others argued that the Act was not strong enough, and that it did not go far enough to address the problem of discrimination.
Despite these criticisms, the Civil Rights Act of 1955 was a landmark piece of legislation that helped to end segregation and discrimination in the United States. The Act has had a profound impact on American society, and it has helped to make the United States a more just and equitable nation.
What is the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It was the culmination of decades of struggle by civil rights activists, and it had a profound impact on American society.
What are some of the key provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in public accommodations, EMPLOYMENT, and education. It also created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to enforce its provisions.
What was the impact of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 had a profound impact on American society. It helped to end segregation and discrimination in public places, and it opened up new opportunities for African Americans and other minorities. The act also helped to improve race relations in the United States.
What are some of the challenges that remain in the fight for civil rights?
While the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a major victory for the civil rights movement, there are still many challenges that remain. For example, African Americans and other minorities continue to face discrimination in employment, housing, and education. Additionally, there is still a great deal of racial inequality in the United States.
What can we do to continue the fight for civil rights?
There are many things that we can do to continue the fight for civil rights. We can educate ourselves about the history of civil rights and the challenges that still remain. We can also support organizations that are working to promote civil rights and Equality. Additionally, we can speak out against discrimination and injustice whenever we see it.
What is the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a landmark piece of legislation that outlawed discrimination in voting. It was the culmination of decades of struggle by civil rights activists, and it had a profound impact on American Democracy.
What are some of the key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits discrimination in voting on the basis of race, color, or language. It also created the Voting Rights Act of 1965 Preclearance Section 5, which requires certain states and jurisdictions with a history of discrimination to obtain approval from the federal government before making any changes to their voting laws.
What was the impact of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 had a profound impact on American democracy. It helped to end the practice of voter suppression, and it led to a dramatic increase in the number of African Americans and other minorities who were registered to vote. The act also helped to improve the representation of minorities in government.
What are some of the challenges that remain in the fight for voting rights?
While the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a major victory for the civil rights movement, there are still many challenges that remain. For example, African Americans and other minorities continue to face discrimination in voting, particularly in the form of voter ID laws and other restrictive voting laws. Additionally, there is still a great deal of racial inequality in the United States, which makes it difficult for minorities to participate fully in the political process.
What can we do to continue the fight for voting rights?
There are many things that we can do to continue the fight for voting rights. We can educate ourselves about the history of voting rights and the challenges that still remain. We can also support organizations that are working to promote voting rights and equality. Additionally, we can speak out against discrimination and injustice whenever we see it.
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The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was passed by Congress to:
(A) Grant Citizenship-2/”>Citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States.
(B) Guarantee all citizens equal protection under the law.
(C) Outlaw discrimination based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
(D) All of the above. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was passed by Congress to:
(A) Grant citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States.
(B) Guarantee all citizens equal protection under the law.
(C) Outlaw discrimination based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
(D) Outlaw discrimination in public accommodations. -
The Supreme Court decision in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) upheld the constitutionality of:
(A) Segregation.
(B) Jim Crow laws.
(C) The doctrine of “separate but equal.”
(D) All of the above. -
The Brown v. Board of Education decision (1954) overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision by ruling that:
(A) Segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.
(B) Jim Crow laws were unconstitutional.
(C) The doctrine of “separate but equal” was unconstitutional.
(D) All of the above. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed by Congress to:
(A) Outlaw discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
(B) Outlaw discrimination in public accommodations.
(C) Outlaw discrimination in employment.
(D) All of the above. -
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed by Congress to:
(A) Outlaw discrimination in voting.
(B) Authorize the federal government to oversee Elections in areas with a history of voter discrimination.
(C) Authorize the federal government to register voters in areas with a history of voter discrimination.
(D) All of the above. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1968 was passed by Congress to:
(A) Outlaw discrimination in housing.
(B) Outlaw discrimination in lending.
(C) Outlaw discrimination in public accommodations.
(D) All of the above. -
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was passed by Congress to:
(A) Outlaw discrimination against people with disabilities.
(B) Require businesses and government agencies to make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities.
(C) Provide financial assistance to people with disabilities.
(D) All of the above. -
The Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) ruled that:
(A) Same-sex couples have the right to marry.
(B) Same-sex couples have the right to adopt children.
(C) Same-sex couples have the right to receive federal benefits.
(D) All of the above. -
The Equality Act of 2020 is a bill that would:
(A) Outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
(B) Require businesses and government agencies to make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities.
(C) Provide financial assistance to people with disabilities.
(D) All of the above.