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

Phase 1: Defining the Law:
The Protection of Civil Rights Act of 1955 is an Indian law. It enforces the end of untouchability, a right protected by Article 17 of the Indian Constitution. The Act makes practicing untouchability a crime.
Phase 2: Examining the Options:
Consider the Act's goal when reviewing the options:
(A) Economic discrimination: Although untouchability causes economic hardship, the Act mainly addresses social restrictions, not wider economic discrimination.
(B) Political representation: Political representation for Scheduled Castes is addressed by reservation policies under different constitutional articles (such as Article 330), not primarily by this Act.
(C) Social discrimination and untouchability: This is the Act's central concern. Its main purpose is to punish "Untouchability" and any discrimination resulting from it, representing social discrimination.
(D) Educational reservations: Educational reservations, similar to political representation, fall under other constitutional provisions (such as Article 15(4)), not the Protection of Civil Rights Act.
Phase 3: Conclusion:
The Act's specific aim is to eliminate untouchability and the discrimination it causes.