A 12-year-old Dalit boy was locked in a cowshed, then news of his death surfaced… Major questions raised about the silence of political parties!
The Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch raised serious questions about the silence of the government and political parties, warning of a major movement if the culprits are not immediately arrested. Shimla: The tragic incident of caste-based harassment of a 12-year-old Dalit boy in Limbara village, Rohru, has spread like wildfire throughout the region. The boy was allegedly locked in a cowshed, after which he took his own life by consuming poison. The Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch has expressed strong objection to this serious incident and demanded immediate and strict action against the culprits. The Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch strongly condemned the incident and said that the accused should be immediately arrested and the strictest possible action should be taken against them under the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (SC/ST Act). The Manch also expressed concern about the safety of the victim’s family. They demanded that the victim’s family be given adequate compensation and full protection, so that they are not pressured to withdraw the case or tamper with evidence. Questioning the government’s attitude, the forum stated that the government’s lack of will to effectively implement the SC/ST Act is contributing to the rise in incidents of caste-based atrocities in the state. The forum also expressed deep disappointment over the silence of major political parties like the Congress and BJP on this issue. The forum believes that these parties prioritize vote bank politics over social justice. Suggesting a concrete solution to prevent caste-based atrocities, the forum said that just as awareness campaigns are run against smoking, a comprehensive campaign needs to be launched about the provisions of the SC/ST Act. Jagat Ram, state convener of the Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch, said, “It is the need of the hour to protect the rights of Dalits and stop their exploitation. We want to ensure that those who commit caste-based atrocities are brought to justice.” He also announced that the Manch would launch a massive mass movement against the increasing caste-based incidents and to uphold the Constitution. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Decades on, 41 Dalit families in Dharamsala await land ownership rights
As many as 41 Dalit families belonging to the Balmiki community in Dharamsala are still awaiting proprietary rights to the residential plots they have inhabited for several decades. These plots were originally allotted to them in the 1960s by Partap Singh Kairon, the then Chief Minister of the undivided Punjab. However, after the reorganisation of states and the formation of Himachal Pradesh in 1966, the new state government failed to address their longstanding demand for ownership rights. The families have been living on government land bearing ‘’khasra’’ number 3362/1013, measuring 5,113.87 square metres. Over the years, they have constructed permanent (pucca) houses on the land, and some of them are now of the second generation. Despite this, they do not hold any legal title to the land. The issue was recently taken up with Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu by Devinder Jaggi, former Mayor of Dharamsala, who urged the government to grant ownership rights to the Balmiki families, who have now lived on the land for over 60 years. “I have urged the Chief Minister to resolve this decades-old issue and grant ownership rights. It will provide permanent housing security to these families and mark a landmark step towards social justice for the Balmiki community in the hill state,” said Jaggi. In response, the Chief Minister has directed the District Magistrate of Kangra, Hemraj Bairwa to look into the matter and take appropriate action. Speaking to The Tribune, Bairwa confirmed that the issue had recently come to his attention. “This is a long-pending matter. I have taken it up with the government and am hopeful that proprietary rights will soon be granted to the current occupants of these residential plots,” he said. Bairwa has forwarded his recommendations to the Additional Chief Secretary and Finance Commissioner (Revenue) for approval of land regularisation and expansion of the Dalit colonies. Article_Author Kulwinder Sandhu Courtesy : The Tribune Note: This news is originally published on https:/thetribune.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
“Caste is acquired by birth, does not change by marriage”: Himachal High Court denies relief under SC/ST Act to woman accused who married a Dalit man, know the full case
The court specifically emphasized that a non-Dalit person cannot enter the Dalit community through marriage. If this is believed, it will promote caste discrimination in society. The trial court had acquitted her on the ground that she had married a Dalit man and thus she is now a member of the Dalit community herself. The High Court completely rejected this argument. Shimla- The Himachal Pradesh High Court has clarified in an important order that caste is determined by birth and cannot change after marriage. This order has come in a case where a non-Dalit woman had described herself as a member of the Dalit community after marrying a Dalit man. Rejecting this argument, the court has ordered to restart the case going on against her under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The case began when the accused Sarojini was booked under Sections 451, 323, 504, 506 of the IPC and Section 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST Act for having an affair with a Dalit man. The trial court had acquitted her on the ground that she had married a Dalit man and was thus now a member of the Dalit community herself. The High Court completely rejected this argument. The bench of Justice Rakesh Kainthala made it clear in its judgment that “caste is an innate identity which does not change throughout life”. The court said that if caste change is allowed after marriage, it would undermine the basic purpose of the SC/ST Act. The court cited the Supreme Court’s Valsamma Paul case (1996) in this matter. Justice Kainthala quoted the Bombay High Court’s observation: “The misery of a person born in a Scheduled Caste does not end by marrying a person from an upper caste. The label attached at birth persists irrespective of the marital relationship.” Similarly, the Karnataka High Court’s judgment in Bhimappa Jantakal vs State of Karnataka (2022) was cited, which held that “a Scheduled Caste woman does not lose her Scheduled Caste status on marrying a forward caste man, and the caste identity of her children continues to be retained.” All these judgments had made it clear that caste is acquired by birth and cannot be changed either by marriage or in any other manner. The court particularly emphasised that a non-Dalit person cannot enter the Dalit community through marriage. If this is held, it will promote caste discrimination in society. The High Court has set aside the trial court’s decision and remanded the case for reconsideration. The court has directed that the trial court should frame charges afresh after hearing both the parties. Along with this, both the parties have been directed to appear in court on August 1. This decision is being considered a big step towards social justice. This decision is not only important from the legal point of view but it will also have far-reaching consequences socially. This has made it clear that caste identity is not something that a person can change as per his convenience. The court clarified that its decision is only to clarify the legal position and it is not a comment on the merit of the case. Now the hearing of this case will start again in the trial court. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy : Hindi News
Dispute Over Dalit Man’s Cremation In Himachal’s Hamirpur Triggers Caste Tensions
Rain renders Nanawan cremation ground unusable; local opposition at alternative site highlights ongoing caste-based segregation. Residents of two villages in the Barsar area of Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur district were involved in a dispute over the cremation of a Dalit man’s body, prompting intervention from the local administration and police. The dispute took place at the Bhevad Saheli crematorium in Kadasai Panchayat on Tuesday, when villagers from Bhevad Saheli and Nanawan confronted each other over the performance of last rites. The issue began after the designated cremation ground for the Scheduled Caste community of Nanawan village became unusable due to rain and a rapidly flowing ravine. As a result, the deceased’s family turned to the nearby Bhevad Saheli crematorium, which was opposed from the local residents and led into a heated argument between the two groups. Later, as tensions escalated, the police and local authorities were informed about the matter, and with their intervention, the matter was resolved peacefully, allowing the cremation to proceed. The dispute arose due to the existence of caste-based cremation grounds. According to the representatives of the Kadasai Panchayat, residents of Nanawan village had earlier sought permission to use the Bhevad Saheli cremation site during the monsoon season. However, the Panchayat declined the request due to lack of consensus among the villagers. Sub-Divisional Magistrate Rajendra Gautam confirmed the peaceful completion of the rites and assured that a permanent solution would be sought. “The local administration has been directed to identify government land and build a separate crematorium for Nanawan village at the earliest,” he added. Courtesy : Outlook India Note: This news is originally published on https://outlookindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.