20 people from the Rabari community filed a petition to quash the FIR challenging the allegations of boycott of Dalits.
Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court has issued a notice to the sarpanch of Paldi village panchayat in Banaskantha district and the state government. The notice has been sent on a petition filed by 20 villagers seeking quashing of an FIR registered under the Scheduled Castes/Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The petitioners all belong to the Rabari community and are accused of boycotting the Dalit community.
The case is related to the Prana-Pratishtha ceremony of Dudheshwar Mahadev temple held in Paldi village between April 28 and 30. According to the FIR, all the communities of the village and surrounding areas were invited to the ceremony, but members of the Scheduled Castes were deliberately not invited. The complainant is the 55-year-old sarpanch of the village and comes from the Scheduled Caste.
The FIR alleges, “The organisers not only did not invite people from the Scheduled Castes, but our contributions were also rejected. It was a well-planned conspiracy to humiliate our caste and socially ostracise us. We were treated like untouchables.” Regarding the delay in filing the complaint, the sarpanch said that he did not complain earlier so that the religious event would not be disrupted. But later keeping in mind the sentiments of the people of his caste, he lodged a complaint at the Bhildi police station on May 9. While conducting a preliminary hearing on this petition on Tuesday, Justice Nirjar Desai passed an order, “Notice is issued to the respondents, the return date of which is August 5, 2025. The Additional Public Prosecutor on behalf of the state has accepted the notice. Respondent No. 2 is allowed direct service through the concerned police station.”
Rajan Chaudhary
Courtesy : Hindi News