The Supreme Court of India ruled on May 11, 2024, that allegations of caste-based abuse must occur in a public space to attract offences under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. This ruling arose from a family property dispute in Delhi, where the complainant alleged that family members used caste-based slurs during a private incident. The court found that the alleged abuse did not happen in 'public view,' a crucial requirement of the law. Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and N V Anjaria stated that even private locations could be considered public if outsiders could witness the acts. However, in this case, the incident occurred within a residential house, and the FIR did not indicate any public presence. The court also noted that witness statements failed to substantiate the claims of public abuse, leading to the conclusion that the FIR lacked essential ingredients for prosecution. Consequently, the Supreme Court quashed the Delhi High Court's earlier judgment and all related charges, highlighting the importance of the 'public view' requirement in such cases.