The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955
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.
Administered by. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment · Other Acts of 1955
Preamble
THE PROTECTION OF CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, 1955
ACT NO. 22 OF 19551
[8th May, 1955.] An Act to prescribe punishment for the 2 [preaching and practice of "Untouchability"] for the enforcement of any disability arising therefrom and for matters connected therewith.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows:--
What this Act covers
Summary of The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 for India Code Portal
Key Provisions
1. Definitions
• Defines key terms: "civil rights", "hotel", "place", "place of public entertainment", and "place of public worship".
2. Punishments for Untouchability-Related Offences (Sections 3-7)
• Enforcing Religious & Social Disabilities
• Refusal of Admission to Public Places/Hospitals
• Refusal to Sell Goods or Render Services
• Other Untouchability-Related Offences
• Unlawful Compulsory Labour
3. Administrative & Judicial Measures (Sections 8-15)
• Cancellation/Suspension of Licences
• Resumption/Suspension of Government Grants
• Abetment of Offence
• Enhanced Penalty on Subsequent Conviction
• Presumption by Courts
• Limitation of Jurisdiction of Civil Courts
• Offences by Companies
• Protection of Action Taken in Good Faith (Section 14A)
• Cognizable and Summarily Triable Offences (Section 15)
• Duty of State Government (Section 15A)
Notable Amendments & References
• Sections 10A & 15A: Detailed in subsequent amendments (e.g., a1989_33.pdf), enhancing collective fine powers and State Government duties.
• Relevant Codes: References to the Code of Criminal Procedure and Indian Penal Code in related contexts.
Sections
Type to filter. 23 sections.
- 1Short title, extent and commencement
- 2Definitions
- 3Punishment for enforcing religious disabilities
- 4Punishment for enforcing social disabilities
- 5Punishment for refusing to admit person to hospitals, etc
- 6Punishment for refusing to sell goods or render services
- 7Punishment for other offences arising out of "untouchability"
- 7AUnlawful compulsory labour when to be deemed to be a practice of "untouchability"
- 8Cancellation or suspension of licences in certain cases
- 9Resumption or suspension of grants made by Government
- 10Abetment of offence
- 10APower of State Government to impose collective fine
- 11Enhanced penalty on subsequent conviction
- 12Presumption by Courts in certain cases
- 13Limitation of Jurisdiction of Civil Courts
- 14Offences by companies
- 14AProtection of action taken in good faith
- 15Offences to be cognizable and triable summarily
- 15ADuty of State Government to ensure that the rights accruing from the abolition of "untouchability" may be availed of by the concerned persons
- 16Act to override other laws
- 16AProbation of Offenders Act, 1958, not to apply to persons above the age of fourteen years
- 16BPower to make rules
- 17Repeal
Schedules
This Act has 1 schedule. A schedule is published as a document of its own; the text is reproduced on its page where it has been read, and the document is mirrored here either way.
- THE SCHEDULE325 words
Rules made under this Act
1 set of Rules. India Code publishes Rules as a record and a document rather than as text, so these are indexed here and not reproduced. All Rules.
- Protection of Civil Rights Rules, 19771977
Related Acts
- The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 198926 sections
- The Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 199230 sections
- The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 199324 sections
- The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 199315 sections
- The National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 199936 sections
- The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 200732 sections
- The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 201339 sections
- The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016102 sections
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Every one of the 23 sections of this Act has its own page. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.