Criminal Tribes Act 1871: Colonial Law that Criminalised Entire Communities

The Criminal Tribes Act was introduced by the British Raj in 1871 to curb what they termed "criminal tendencies" among specific tribal and rural groups. Under the law, 22 communities were listed as "criminal tribes" and were required to register with authorities, carry identity cards and report their movements. The act allowed police to conduct searches, restrict travel, and even detain members without trial. Though repealed in 1952 after India gained independence, the stigma and social marginalisation it created continue to affect descendants of those communities. Historians argue that the Act was less about crime prevention and more a tool of colonial control, targeting marginalized groups under the guise of public safety.