Question

The Protection of Civil Rights Act primarily addresses:

• A. Economic discrimination
• B. Political representation
• C. Social discrimination and untouchability
• D. Educational reservations

Hint:

Associate Article 17 of the Constitution (Abolition of Untouchability) directly with the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955. They are legally linked. Later, the more stringent Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, was enacted to further address crimes against these communities.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, is an Indian law enacted to enforce the abolition of untouchability, a fundamental right guaranteed by Article 17 of the Indian Constitution. The Act makes it a punishable offense to practice untouchability in any form.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's analyze the options in the context of the Act's purpose:
(A) Economic discrimination: While untouchability has severe economic consequences, the Act's primary focus is on the social disability imposed, not on broader economic discrimination.
(B) Political representation: Political representation for Scheduled Castes is addressed by reservation policies under different constitutional articles (like Article 330), not primarily by this Act.
(C) Social discrimination and untouchability: This is the core subject of the Act. Its main purpose is to prescribe punishment for the practice of "Untouchability" and the enforcement of any disability arising from it. This is a form of social discrimination.
(D) Educational reservations: Like political representation, educational reservations are governed by other constitutional provisions (like Article 15(4)), not the Protection of Civil Rights Act.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The Act was specifically designed to combat the social evil of untouchability and the discrimination stemming from it.