Congress calls late-night meeting to decide on possible support for Vijay’s TVK in Tamil Nadu
The move follows Congress leaving the final decision to its state unit after directing it to consider Vijay’s request and public sentiment in TN. NEW DELHI: The Congress is considering a possible alliance with actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), with sources indicating that a power-sharing arrangement is under active discussion. An urgent meeting of the Tamil Nadu Congress Political Affairs Committee has been convened at 10:30 pm on Tuesday to take a final call on the matter, according to sources. The late-night meeting has been called by AICC in-charge Girish Chodankar and will be held virtually via Zoom. The move follows the central leadership’s decision to leave the final choice to the state unit, shortly after directing it to consider Vijay’s request for support in forming a government in Tamil Nadu, taking into account public sentiment in the state. All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for Tamil Nadu Girish Chodankar TVK led govt’s oath taking ceremony likely on May 7 even as uncertainity looms The decision to delegate the matter was taken at a high-level meeting attended by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi, general secretary (organisation) K. C. Venugopal, and Tamil Nadu in-charge Girish Chodankar. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Venugopal said TVK president Vijay had sought Congress support to form a government in Tamil Nadu. He added that the party remains committed to ensuring that the BJP and its allies are kept out of power in the state. “The INC is clear that the mandate in Tamil Nadu is for a secular government committed to protecting the Constitution in letter and spirit,” Venugopal said. All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for Tamil Nadu Girish Chodankar Political observers see uncertain path ahead as TVK falls short of majority in Tamil Nadu Assembly The Congress leadership has instructed the Tamil Nadu unit to take a final decision based on the political situation in the state following the electoral outcome, he added. The TVK secured 108 seats, falling short of the 118 required to form a majority. The Congress, along with allies such as the DMK, VCK, CPI, CPI(M), and IUML, currently holds a fragmented position within the broader alliance structure. According to sources, there is growing support within the party for exploring an arrangement with TVK. However, the central leadership has placed responsibility on the state unit to avoid any impression that the decision is being imposed from above. Party insiders said this approach is also aimed at preventing strain in its long-standing relationship with the DMK. Sources also indicated that Rahul Gandhi is understood to be open to examining a potential understanding with Vijay’s party. Preetha Nair Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Casteism in Rajasthan: Initially said at a Sikar temple ceremony, “Dalits will not be seated in the yagna,” he apologized unconditionally after the video went viral!
The director of a private college in Ringas made a controversial statement, and after facing intense social pressure and criticism, he publicly apologized. Sikar – During a meeting of all communities held at the Tejaji Temple in Shahpura Tikaria, Sikar district, Rajasthan, Babulal Yadav, director of Tejal Shikshan Sansthan, Ringas, made a highly controversial statement. In the video, he is heard saying that the upcoming yagna-havan is being conducted according to Vedic tradition, and therefore, members of the Scheduled Castes will not be allowed to sit in it. He also clarified that while everyone has the right to sit in the Arya Samaj tradition, this ceremony is being conducted according to Vedic tradition, therefore, no one from the Scheduled Caste community will be allowed to sit in it. He specifically stated that women will not be allowed to sit in the ceremony. He tried to justify this discrimination by citing Vedic tradition and also stated that women could participate in the Kalash Yatra if they wished, but would not be given a place in the Yagya. He then asked those present to raise their hands, and many did. As the video spread on social media, widespread outrage erupted among Dalit organizations, social activists, and ordinary citizens. People not only described it as a vile manifestation of casteism but also a direct violation of Article 17 of the Indian Constitution, which completely prohibits untouchability. It was also noteworthy that the person making the statement was directly associated with the educational world, which further deepened the controversy. After the video went viral and faced immense social pressure, Babulal Yadav publicly apologized. Such incidents have occasionally made headlines in Rajasthan, although Article 17 of the Constitution prohibits untouchability and guarantees equal rights to all citizens in religious activities. After facing immense social pressure and criticism, Babulal Yadav publicly apologized. He acknowledged his statement as incorrect, stating that he made an unintentional mistake but did not intend to hurt anyone’s sentiments. He stated that he respects the socio-religious sentiments of all communities and that he apologizes unconditionally, putting an end to the controversy. Many argue that an apology alone should not be the end of the matter, and that legal action should be taken against him under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. This incident once again raises the question of how deeply rooted caste discrimination is on the ground, despite laws and constitutional provisions. At present, no official police action has been confirmed in the case, but social pressure and discussion continue. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
A Dalit e-rickshaw driver was brutally treated in MP! He was stuffed into a tractor, beaten, and paraded around the village wearing a garland of shoes.
The Bhim Army demanded justice: “The accused should be arrested in such a way that future generations remember that no one is greater than the Constitution.” Morena – A serious case of caste-based assault, kidnapping, and public humiliation has come to light against 40-year-old Bharatlal Jatav, a resident of Jatawar village in Morena district, Madhya Pradesh. The victim has filed a First Information Report at the Civil Lines police station, accusing the accused of assault, abuse, caste-based insults, kidnapping, and threats to kill. The victim, Bharatlal Jatav, son of Bhikharam Jatav, stated in the report that he had a dispute with Bhura Gurjar and Sheru Gurjar, residents of Janakpur, during Diwali. Due to the same rivalry, on May 2nd, at around 3:45 pm, while returning from the bus stand to his village Jatawar in an e-rickshaw, a Swaraj tractor with a trolley stopped his rickshaw near Chambaldeep Hotel. The tractor driver refused to let him proceed, and Bhura Gurjar, Sheru Gurjar, and Surendra Gurjar got off the trolley and began assaulting him. According to the victim, the accused abused him, used derogatory terms for the Chamar caste, and said, “You behave very arrogantly.” When Bharatlal asked them to stop, the three slapped and punched him, beat him severely, and threw him into the tractor. Bhura Gurjar ordered the tractor driver to take him to Janakpur. The victim’s niece, Anjali, and nephew, Akash, were also present at the scene. Upon reaching Janakpur, Karua Gurjar, son of Surendra Gurjar, Mahendra Gurjar, and Dilip Gurjar joined in. They also hurled abuses at his mother and sister, hurled caste-related insults, and beat him with shoes. After this, the accused made a garland of shoes and placed it around the victim’s neck and paraded him around the village. A large crowd had gathered there during this time. The victim reported that when a police vehicle was seen approaching, Ballo Gurjar took out a pistol and placed it on his chest, threatening to kill him if he reported the matter to the police station. He suffered a bloody facial injury near his right eyebrow and sustained injuries elsewhere on his body. Strongly condemning the incident, Bhim Army leader Sunil Asteya said, “Just because he’s a Dalit, he was kidnapped, beaten with shoes, and made to wear a garland. The country has reached the moon, but Dalits still don’t have the right to walk on village streets like human beings. In Morena’s village of Jatawar, a man from the Jatav community was beaten in a trolley, then garlanded with shoes and paraded through the village. This isn’t an incident, but a slap in the face of the Constitution. Shame on the system that trumpets “equality” in every election, yet on the ground, Dalits are still treated worse than animals. It seems some casteist mindsets are still intoxicated with their upper caste status, not the law. It’s a good thing an FIR was filed, otherwise, the insults of Dalits are often swept under the rug under the guise of “compromise” in this country. Now, not just an FIR, but the accused should be arrested so that future generations remember that no one is greater than the Constitution.” The police have registered an FIR and begun investigating the case. The accused have been identified as Bhura Gurjar, Sheru Gurjar, Surendra Gurjar, Karua Gurjar, Mahendra Gurjar, Dilip Gurjar, and Ballo Gurjar, among others. The situation remains tense. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
A dispute in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, erupted over a demand for wheat in the name of a temple. A deadly attack on a Dalit family left several injured, including women.
The incident took place in the Maharajganj Civil Lines police station area. The dispute escalated over a demand for one quintal of wheat. The Azad Samaj Party demanded strict action. Bhopal. A serious incident has emerged from the Maharajganj Civil Lines police station area of Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh. A dispute between two communities over a demand for wheat in the name of a temple escalated to a violent clash. It is alleged that some members of the Patel community forcibly demanded one quintal of wheat from poor families belonging to the Dalit Ahirwar community. When the affected families, citing their financial situation, offered only 50 kg of wheat, the dispute escalated and escalated into a physical altercation. It is reported that the Ahirwar community members clearly stated that they were unable to provide a quintal of wheat and could only provide 50 kg. Despite this, the accused refused to comply and continued to pressure them to provide one quintal. When the victim’s family persisted, it is alleged that members of the Patel community took an aggressive stance and attacked them with sticks and bricks. Both men and women were seriously injured in the attack, creating a tense atmosphere in the area. Those accused of assault include Shyam Patel, Ramswaroop Patel, Bhagwatdayal Patel, and Raja Bhaiya Patel. The victims include Kura Ahirwar, Chiddi Ahirwar, Sohan Ahirwar, Viru Ahirwar, Girija Ahirwar, and Kavita Ahirwar. The injured have reportedly been admitted to the hospital for treatment, where their condition is being monitored. According to the victims, when they demanded only 50 kg of wheat for the temple, citing their financial situation, the accused became abusive. The victims say the accused forcibly pressured them to give a quintal of wheat and, when they refused, allegedly began abusing them. The situation gradually became tense, and the matter escalated into a dispute. In the interview, the victims stated that when they protested against this indecent behavior and abuse, the accused began assaulting them. They were attacked with sticks and bricks, injuring several family members. According to the victims, women were also targeted and injured in the attack. Since the incident, the entire family has lived in fear and is demanding strict action against the accused. The incident has also sparked political backlash. Azad Samaj Party leader Sunil Astey tweeted on the matter, saying that a temple is a center of faith, but forcibly demanding grain from a poor Dalit farmer family in its name, and then attacking the entire family, especially the women, when they refused, is extremely shameful and condemnable. He said that this is not just a simple assault, but reflects a mentality of intimidation and oppression of the weaker sections. Speaking to The Muknayak, ASP leader Sunil Astey said that such illegal extortion and bullying in the name of religion is unacceptable under any circumstances. He demanded that the administration provide immediate security to the victim’s family, ensure proper treatment for the injured, and take strict legal action against all the accused. He also stated that hooliganism in the name of faith will not be tolerated in villages and that the law must be upheld. Currently, the police are investigating the case and are said to be taking action after considering all aspects of the incident. Ankit Pachauri Courtesy: Hindi News
‘We’ve been farming for 30 years’: Dalit families in a Mathura village allege forced occupation of land near a temple
“We’ve been farming this land for years, but now some people are trying to forcibly take it away.” A land dispute near the Dauji Maharaj Temple in Aicha village, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh, has sparked tension. Dalit families allege that people associated with a local religious figure are trying to forcibly occupy their agricultural land. Two Dalit families, including Kewal Singh and Suresh Chandra, have accused some people allegedly associated with Mahant Baba Shyam Das of trying to take over their land behind the temple. According to a Justice News report, one of the victims said, “We’ve been farming this land for years, but now some people are trying to forcibly take it away.” The families claim that the land is still registered in their names in government revenue records. “We’ve been farming this land for 30 years” According to the families and villagers, they’ve been farming the disputed land for nearly three decades. A family member said, “We’ve been in possession of this land for the last 30 years. This is our only source of livelihood.” He added that they are deeply troubled by this sudden dispute. Accusations against Mahant’s supporters Villagers alleged that some people are trying to take over the land by using the name of Mahant Baba Shyam Das. A local resident said, “Some anti-social elements are trying to grab the land by misleading the Mahant. This has created tension in the village.” Administration intervenes, orders status quo maintained Following complaints, revenue officials visited the site and measured the land. An official said, “Both parties have been instructed not to carry out any activity on the land for the time being. The status quo must be maintained until further orders.” Officials stated that a detailed report will be submitted to higher authorities before any final decision is made. Victims plead for justice, allege threats The victim families reported that they have contacted several officials, but have received no concrete relief so far. Kewal Singh alleged, “We have been running from office to office seeking justice, but no action has been taken so far. We are also receiving threats, and no one is listening to us.” Local residents have urged the administration to ensure a fair investigation and return the land to its rightful owners. Courtesy: Hindi News
Systematic Exclusion: Caste-based atrocities across Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, MP, and UP
A spate of anti-Dalit incidents—from a youth killed over leftover food in Amreli to a suspicious death after an inter-caste relationship in Tamil Nadu, and social boycotts in Khargone—also includes temple bans and clashes over Dalit wedding processions The promise of Article 17, which abolished “untouchability” in all its forms, appears increasingly fragile when viewed through the lens of recent incidents across the geographical expanse of the nation. From Tamil Nadu to Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh to Uttar Pradesh, these incidents are not mere statistical anomalies; they are symptomatic of a deeply entrenched “graded inequality” where the assertion of dignity by a Dalit—whether through love, religious participation, or the simple act of a wedding celebration is met with lethal force or social asphyxiation. The following report synthesises five harrowing accounts of caste-based hate, meticulously documenting how the intersection of social dominance, administrative apathy, and ritual purity continues to deny the Dalit community their fundamental right to life and liberty. Dalit youth found dead in Tamil Nadu after going missing; family alleges killing linked to inter-caste relationship Tamil Nadu (Pudukkottai) On April 21, in Nadupatti village of Kulathur taluk in Pudukkottai district, 20-year-old R. Hariharan, a Dalit youth, went missing after receiving a phone call. Two days later, on April 23, villagers grazing cattle near a forest area found a body floating in a water-filled quarry. The body was identified as Hariharan. Hariharan had been in a relationship with a 19-year-old girl belonging to a dominant caste. Around five months earlier, the couple had attempted to elope. Following this, both families were called to Keeranur police station, where a compromise was reached and the couple was separated. After the recovery of the body, Vellanur police registered a case under Section 194 of the BNSS on April 24, treating it as a suspicious death, based on a complaint filed by Hariharan’s father, P. Rajkumar (50). The family refused to accept the body and demanded that a murder case be registered. A post-mortem examination was conducted, and the body was handed over to the family on April 27. Hariharan’s father, P. Rajkumar, stated that “The murder was committed by the family members of the girl belonging to another caste, because Hariharan had a love affair with her” as The Mooknayak reported On April 25, the FIR was altered to include Section 108 (abetment of suicide) of the BNS and Section 3(2)(va) of the SC/ST Act. The accused named in the FIR include the girl’s father Rajendran, her brother Shanmugasundaram, and another person, Krishnan. The case is currently being investigated by the Pudukkottai town Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). Members of Dalit community asked to bring their own plates & water for temple Gujarat (Junagadh) On April 29, during the Pran Pratishta ceremony of a Ram temple in Bhutadi village of Visavadar taluk in Junagadh district, members of the Dalit community were invited to participate in the event. Approximately ten Dalit individuals were invited by the organising committee. However, the invitation included conditions requiring them to eat separately after others had finished and to bring their own plates and glasses. They were also told that “Bring your own plates and glasses from home… stay outside the temple premises during the core rituals” as reported by The Mooknayak Ajay Chatur Boricha, aged 25, filed an FIR at Visavadar police station regarding the conditions imposed. Following this, members of the Dalit community refused to attend the event. The planned mass feast in the village was cancelled, while the temple consecration ceremony proceeded as scheduled. Police registered a case against five individuals: Babu Uka Hapani, Narendra Bhanji Siroya, Ramnik Samji Sorathia, Atul Bhikha Siroya, and Phula Popat Siroya. The case was registered under relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the BNS, 2023. Newly married Dalit couple were allegedly denied entry in temple Madhya Pradesh (Khargone) On April 26, in Khargone district, a Dalit couple, Nirmal Kanade and his wife, attempted to enter a Hanuman temple to offer prayers. The temple was initially found locked. After police intervention, the couple was allowed entry. Following this, a panchayat consisting of members from the Banjara and Patel communities held a meeting. The panchayat declared a social boycott against the couple and two other Dalit families associated with them. According to the New Indian Express, The decision included a financial penalty. “The panchayat announced that anyone engaging with the three families or selling anything to them would have to pay a penalty of Rs 11,000” as reported Following the announcement, local shopkeepers stopped selling goods to the affected families. Nirmal Kanade shared a video describing the situation and seeking assistance. Police later intervened and stated that the matter had been resolved through discussions, and restrictions were lifted. “Now, Dalits will also take out wedding processions riding a buggy” remark against Dalit wedding procession Uttar Pradesh (Shahjahanpur) On April 20, in Lai Kheda village under Tilhar police station area in Shahjahanpur district, a wedding procession arrived from Bareilly at a Dalit household. During the procession, a local individual, Rajpal Yadav, made a remark that now Dalits will also take out wedding processions riding a buggy. Following this remark, an argument took place which escalated into a physical clash between groups. Police stated that two processions had reached the same location at the same time, contributing to the situation. An FIR was registered against Rajpal Yadav and four others under provisions of the BNS and the SC/ST Act. Two individuals were detained in connection with the incident, as reported. Dalit youth dies after assault at Amreli hospital canteen following dispute over leftover food and caste inquiry Gujarat (Amreli) On April 20, at Shantaba General Hospital in Amreli district, 24-year-old Mahesh Premji Rathore from Gopalgram village died after being assaulted. Mahesh had been at the hospital to care for his 70-year-old uncle. While eating at a free canteen, he felt unwell and threw away a portion of leftover food. The canteen operator, Bharat Acharya, demanded a fine of Rs
Plates Apart: Junagadh Temple Feast Exposes Gujarat’s Caste Fault Lines
In Gujarat, a 3% conviction rate means that most accused of caste-based crimes walk free; the Bhutdi case is headed into the same odds. Junagadh: Five men walked into Bhutdi village, Junagadh district, on the evening of April 27, 2026. They had an invitation to deliver to the consecration feast of a newly built Ram temple, two days later. However, the Patostav invitation came with conditions. Residents belonging to the Dalit community were told to arrive only after members of other castes had eaten. They were to bring their own plates and bowls and food and water arranged for them would be kept separately. Lastly, they were to stay out of the temple itself. Ajay Chatur Boricha, 25, filed a formal complaint at the Visavadar police station the next morning. By the time the temple was consecrated on April 29, the community feast had been cancelled, five organisers were facing First Information Reports (FIRs) under the Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST) Prevention of Atrocities Act, and the case had gained the attention of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Ravirajsinh Parmar of the Junagadh SC/ST Cell, who confirmed that statements had been recorded and notices issued to all accused under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 35(3). As we file this news report, investigators are also looking for digital evidence. The fact that a complaint was filed before any violence occurred and the Dalit community chose legal redress over participation on humiliating terms, marks a small but significant assertion of dignity. What happens to that complaint in the Gujarat’s courts is another matter entirely. The temple in Bhutdi where people belonging to the Dalit community were asked to bring their own plates to eat, Photo: By special arrangement, Vibes of India. A grammar of exclusion The conditions imposed on people belonging to the Dalit community in Bhutdi — separate vessels, a later sitting, barred entry to the sanctum — are not inventions of rural backwardness. Dalit manual scavengers in Ahmedabad district, whose testimonies have been documented by civil society organisations, describe the same logic at work in a city setting. Not only are members of SC/ST communities made to clean their own utensils and use separate tea tumblers in canteens, they also struggle to access basic amenities such as water, barred from using “upper-caste” water taps and forced to walk long distances for drinking water. A Dalit man engaged in manual scavenging said that when he and his colleagues demanded their rights from the municipality, officials threatened to fire them. In most so-called “posh” and “high caste” houses in Gujarat, there are two separate sets of utensils, especially tea cups and drinking glasses, which even the non-Dalit domestic workers refuse to touch. In March last year, a Dalit man from the Vadol village in Sabarkantha district was beaten, stripped, and paraded naked through the streets for an alleged extramarital affair with an upper-caste woman. Two Dalit men in Mandal village were assaulted by cow vigilantes for refusing to dispose off a dead animal, a task that caste hierarchy has historically forced upon SC communities. During Navratri, a young Dalit girl was dragged out by her hair as she was participating in a public garba event. Shailesh Solanki, a 38-year-old Dalit labourer, was assaulted and abused with casteist slurs at a crossroads in Sabarkantha, simply for wishing to visit the Kal Bhairav temple in Himatnagar. As recently as February 2026, a Dalit groom’s wedding procession in Patan district was stopped at sword-point by upper-caste men who objected to his riding a horse, a ritual they considered their exclusive right. The video circulated widely. In Banaskantha, a Dalit lawyer named Mukesh Parecha who wanted to arrive at his own wedding on horseback requested police protection. A team of 145 policemen arrived in Gadalvada village to escort him. Although the wedding passed without incident, the spectacle of state force required for a man to exercise a social custom that others take for granted was, in itself, evidence of the distance between constitutional guarantee and ground reality. The conviction rate The Bhutdi FIR, once it travels the familiar path of Gujarat’s criminal justice machinery, will encounter a set of odds that are well-documented. Between 2018 and 2021, the conviction rate in cases reporting atrocities against SCs in Gujarat was 3.06%. Of the 5,369 cases registered during that period, only 32 held the accused guilty. In 1,012 cases, including murder and rape charges registered under the SC/ST Act, the accused were quickly acquitted. A further 1,044 cases were settled out of court. Martin Macwan, veteran activist and founder of the Navsarjan Trust, noted that in the rare cases where conviction has been achieved, it is because non-governmental organisations (NGOs) looking after Dalit rights sustained the case despite the social pressure and threats the complainant and witnesses usually face. Ahmedabad alone recorded 189 cases of atrocities against SC persons in 2022, the highest of any district in the state, out of a state total of 1,425 registered cases. In March 2019, Gujarat’s then-minister for social justice told the state assembly that crimes against Dalit people had risen 32% between 2013 and 2017. The national conviction rate under the Atrocities Act stands at 3-4%. Advocates working in the space have offered a structural explanation: a prejudiced or compromised police officer at the investigation stage, or a biased judge at trial, can ensure that justice is never served while simultaneously encouraging the accused to file counter-complaints against the victim. The acquittal, in this reading, is not a failure of the law but of its gatekeepers. The prosperity paradox Gujarat’s governance record is frequently cited as evidence that development and social order can coexist. The state’s per capita income is among the highest in the country. Its industrial corridors, port infrastructure and export numbers are points of pride in every budget speech. The ‘Gujarat Model’ has been exported as a national template. Against this backdrop, the persistence of caste atrocity is not incidental. Instead it is, as researchers and activists
SC nixes Odisha’s ‘odious’ bail conditions to Adivasi, Dalit accused to clean police stations
Such “abhorrent” bail conditions, issued by both HC and trial courts, reflect the “regressive mindset”, caste-based biases of Odisha judiciary, says SC; sends warning against such bail conditions to all HCs When the Odisha judiciary set “odious” bail conditions, like cleaning police stations for two months, for members of Adivasi and Dalit communities, it suggested that judges had a “regressive mindset” and caste-based biases, the Supreme Court said on Monday (May 4, 2026). “Assuming that such conditions were imposed inadvertently or without any premeditated bias, the nature of the condition is so abhorrent, degrading, and unknown to law that it carries the potential to cast a serious aspersion, suggesting that the Odisha Judiciary is afflicted by a caste-based bias,” a Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed in a seven-page order. Odisha mining project protest: Congress seeks independent probe; alleges PESA, FRA violations Indigenous protesters The subjects of these bail conditions are a group of indigenous people facing criminal charges after their three-year-old protest against the acquisition of their land for a Vedanta Group bauxite mining project in Rayagada and Kalahandi districts allegedly turned violent. Around 40 protesters were arrested and cases registered against them. Some of them were subsequently allowed bail by various courts in the State. However, a range of bail conditions, some of which the top court found extremely humiliating, were thrust upon the accused in return for exercising their fundamental right to personal liberty. New railway line proposed to connect ‘controversial’ bauxite hills in Odisha ‘Obnoxious, unpalatable’ Chief Justice Kant, who had taken suo motu cognisance of the orders imposing “obnoxious” and “unprecedented” bail conditions, said they had brought a bad name to the judicial institution itself. The Bench noted that, between May 2025 and January 2026, six such bail orders were issued by a local trial court, all imposing similar conditions. The court said it was both unfortunate and disheartening to see that the State High Court and the trial courts were on the same plane, both passing “unpalatable” bail conditions. ‘Underlying caste bias’ “Such conditions reflect the underlying, albeit unarticulated, bias of the Odisha State judiciary premised on the perception that the accused individuals belonged to the marginalised Adivasi community,” the Supreme Court observed. The court said the promise of a casteless society was one of the greatest gifts the people of India gave themselves through the Constitution. The judiciary, in its role as the sentinel on the qui vive, had to stand guard on the Constitutional guarantees and protect the most vulnerable in the society, the Supreme Court observed. The court noted that every Constitutional doctrine or philosophy in a diverse country like India stood up for substantive equality, the individual dignity of all people, and an end to caste barriers. Mining push meets tribal resistance Directive sent to all HCs “We declare such conditions and any other similarly worded condition imposed by the State judiciary as null and void. Let the petitioners approach the High Court to forthwith delete such conditions and not substitute it with any other analogous condition,” the court ordered, clarifying that the accused persons would continue on bail. The court directed that all State judiciaries should refrain from imposing conditions that carry caste implications, which could lead to social discord. “Thus, let this order be made available to all judicial officers across the country, not to impose such conditions,” the Bench said. It also directed the Supreme Court registry to circulate the order to all High Courts across the country. “Each High Court shall ensure that a copy of this order is sent to each judicial officer in its jurisdiction, accompanied by a communication that such conditions shall not be imposed while granting bail,” it said. The court directed the Registrar General of the Orissa High Court to file a compliance report in four weeks. Krishnadas Rajagopal Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
SC notice to UOI, states & UTs on pleas challenging Transgender Amendment Act 2026
The amendment was passed by the Parliament recently in March, taking away the right to self-determination of gender, the plea claimed. The law had received presidential assent on March 31. NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre, all states and Union Territories on a batch of petitions challenging the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, which allegedly violates the right to self-determination by mandating medical procedures for gender identity certification. A two-judge bench od the apex court, headed by the CJI Surya Kant and also comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi has constituted a three-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice of India himself to examine the matter. The batch of writ petitions were filed in the top court, including that of noted transgender, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, and others, challenging the Transgender Amendment Act 2026. Tripathi, the Chairperson of National Council for Transgender Persons (NCTP), and its member Zainab Patel have moved the Supreme Court and filed a petition challenging the Constitutional validity of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026 which introduced many changes to the legal framework governing the recognition, rights and protection of transgender persons. The amendment was passed by the Parliament recently in March, taking away the right to self-determination of gender, the plea claimed. The law had received presidential assent on March 31. The petition challenged the Amendment Act, as causing “irreparable constitutional injury” to the fundamental rights of transgender persons guaranteed under Articles 14, 15, 19 and 21 of the Constitution. “Section 4(2) provided, in express terms, that a transgender person shall have a right to self-perceived gender identity. It was the direct statutory embodiment of the NALSA mandate. Parliament has simply deleted it. A legislature cannot repeal a provision that gives concrete form to a fundamental right recognised by this Hon’ble Court without violating Article 21. The unconstitutionality is in the act of deletion itself,” the plea stated. Criticizing the role of the state that it could not impose medical, psychiatric, or bureaucratic gatekeeping as a condition for the recognition of gender identity, the plea further added, this court held that informational privacy, including the right to control the disclosure of one’s own sensitive personal and medical information, is a fundamental right. The deletion of Section 7(3)’s protective Proviso strips certificate-holders of guarantees that their existing entitlements will not be disturbed. The drafting of Sections 18(e)-(h) stigmatises transgender presentation by making it the object of criminal offences rather than targeting coercion alone, the petition said. “The failure to enhance the maximum sentence for sexual and physical abuse of transgender persons under Sections 18(a)-(d), while introducing life imprisonment for trafficking offences, reflects an arbitrary legislative hierarchy that continues to undervalue the bodily integrity of transgender persons. The continued failure to implement the reservation directions issued in NALSA for transgender persons under Articles 15(4) and 16(4) compounds this constitutional default. No legitimate state objective can justify this cumulative regression from the constitutional standard set by this Hon’ble Court over a decade ago,” it added. The plea further submitted that the deepest constitutional wound inflicted by the Impugned Amendment Act is the substitution of the definition of “transgender person” in Section 2(k) of the Principal Act. The original definition, which identified a transgender person as “a person whose gender does not match with the gender assigned to that person at birth,” faithfully reflected what this Court held in NALSA: that gender identity is determined by the person herself/himself, not by biology, birth assignment, or state verification, the petition claimed. After the new legislation was made, it was being severely criticised by oposition parties and LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Agender etc) communities. Those who opposed the legislation have argued that they were not consulted at all prior to the introduction of the Bill in parliament. Two members of the NCTP, Kalki Subramanium and Rituparna Neog, resigned from their posts the day the Rajya Sabha passed the Bill. Suchitra Kalyan Mohanty Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
SC issues notice on pleas against Transgender Amendment Act, declines interim stay
The Supreme Court of India on Monday issued notice to the Centre and all States on a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Transgender (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, but declined to grant any interim stay, noting that the law has not yet been notified. The Supreme Court of India on Monday issued notice to the Centre and all States on a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Transgender (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, but declined to grant any interim stay, noting that the law has not yet been notified. Refusing to put the amended law on hold at this stage, a Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed that notice be issued to the States through their Advocates General and said the matter would be placed before a three-judge Bench to be constituted by the Chief Justice. The amendment, which received Presidential assent on March 31, introduces wide-ranging changes to the legal framework governing the recognition, rights, and protection of transgender persons. It revises the definition of a “transgender person” to make it more precise and strengthens penal provisions to deal with serious offences such as abduction of adults and children and the infliction of reversible or irreversible bodily harm through mutilation, emasculation, castration, hormone therapies or other similar interventions, or chemical alteration, including forced gender identity. During the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for some of the petitioners, raised concerns over the removal of self-identification as a basis for recognising gender identity. He submitted that the amended law effectively bars individuals from asserting their gender identity without medical certification and could disrupt ongoing gender-affirming treatments. The Bench, however, expressed concern about possible misuse if self-identification alone were accepted, including the risk of individuals falsely claiming such status to avail reservations and other benefits. Singhvi responded that such apprehensions were unfounded and reiterated that the amendment runs contrary to the principles laid down by the Supreme Court in its April 15, 2014 judgment in National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India. “You cannot nullify the judgment. The basis can be removed. The NALSA judgment is nullified, and no attempt has been made to remove its basis,” Singhvi told the Bench. The Supreme Court, in its April 15, 2014 judgment, had issued a series of directions, including upholding the right of transgender persons to self-identify their gender. The ruling stated: “Transgender persons’ right to decide their self-identified gender is also upheld, and the Centre and State Governments are directed to grant legal recognition of their gender identity, such as male, female, or as third gender.” Questioning Singhvi’s submissions, Justice Bagchi observed, “When you say NALSA recognises self-identification as a matter of dignity, we can examine the amendment in the light of Article 21. This amendment changes the substratum of the law on which NALSA examined it. So, instead of self-determination, there is a medical evaluation.” “This amendment changes the substratum of the law under which NALSA was examined. Self-identification is replaced with medical evaluation,” the Bench added. Singhvi pressed for an interim stay of the amendment, pointing to its immediate impact on transgender persons undergoing treatment, but the Court was not inclined to intervene. It reiterated that the validity of the law would be examined in due course and refused to halt its operation at this stage. The amendment to the Transgender (Protection of Rights) Act, 2026 has also been challenged before the High Courts of Delhi, Kerala, and Karnataka. The amended law seeks to make the definition of a “transgender person” more precise, addressing concerns that the earlier definition under the 2019 Act was overly broad and created practical difficulties in identification and implementation. The revised framework aims to ensure that protections are targeted at individuals facing genuine social exclusion due to biological factors, rather than extending benefits based on self-perceived or acquired identities. The Act also introduces institutional and procedural reforms, including the designation of competent authorities for implementation and provisions for seeking expert inputs where required. It enables transgender persons to make consequential changes in official documents and restructures the National Council for Transgender Persons to ensure more effective representation from States and Union Territories through a region-based rotational mechanism. A key feature of the amendment is the strengthening of penal provisions. While the earlier law provided limited punishment for general offences, the amended provisions create specific offences with graded punishments, particularly addressing grave acts such as abduction, forced bodily harm (including mutilation or chemical alteration), and coercion into a transgender identity for exploitation. These provisions are designed to operate alongside existing criminal laws while recognising the unique vulnerability of victims. Parmod Kumar Courtesy : The Statesman Note: This news is originally published on https:/thestatesman.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights