The Centre may file a review petition in the Supreme Court to contest a recent ruling that, political parties allege, dilutes the provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

Speaking to reporters, Minister for Law and Justice, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “I have already instructed the Ministry of Law over the desirability of filing a review and appropriate follow-up action.”

Prasad said the government had taken note of the apex court’s judgment laying down new norms as per the Act.

Earlier this month, the court had pointed out misuse of certain provisions of the Act for vested interests. It had also laid down rules such a preliminary enquiry before registering a case under the Act.

The decision faced much flak from both within and outside the ruling party. The Opposition has been up in arms alleging that the Centre held an anti-Dalit bias. Members of Parliament from the ruling party coalition too had voiced their discontent with the apex court verdict.

On Wednesday, a delegation of Dalit Ministers and MPs led by Ram Vilas Paswan had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi which the Union Minister had described as positive.