The Bombay high court on Tuesday directed the Maharashtra government to initiate steps to curb the menace arising out of decisions passed by caste panchayats. A division bench of Justices S.C. Dharmadhikari and Gautam Patel was hearing a petition filed by four members of the Kunbi community from Harihareshwar in Raigad district, who are facing social boycott for contesting local body elections without the consent of their panchayat. The petitioners stated because of the boycott they were going through restrictions on personal liberty. According to the petition, their panchayat has ordered community members not to allow the four petitioners to participate in any social event. “The state home department shall initiate steps to control the menace arising out of decisions passed by caste panchayats within four weeks,” the court said.
Advocate General Darius Khambata on Tuesday told the court that the Social Disabilities Bill is still pending for approval. “Pending the bill being passed, a circular will be issued to all police stations to lodge complaints against panchayat members under any of these sections of the Indian Penal Code —120 (b) for criminal conspiracy, 503 (criminal intimidation), 34 (common intention) and 153 (a) (promoting enmity between two religious groups),” he said. The court, however, said the state government needs to address the larger issue here. “How to eradicate this?... Harassment, exploitation and imposition of blind faith need to be eradicated. A mechanism needs to be formed or else people will continue to suffer,” the bench said. Mr Khambata said while there is nothing under law to prohibit blind faith but imposition, exploitation and coercion of blind faith on someone else needs to be weeded out. The court also observed that the state and police machinery should ensure that people confidently walk into police stations to lodge complaints.