Social boycott by communities of individuals will soon be a punishable criminal offence in Maharashtra.
Social boycott by communities of individuals will soon be a punishable criminal offence in Maharashtra. The state Cabinet on Tuesday approved the decision to enact a law against social boycott by jat (community) panchayats. The ‘Prohibition of Social Boycott bill’ will be tabled in the ensuing Budget Session of the state legislature that will begin on March 9, informed state revenue minister Eknath Khadse.
The development assumes significance as the practice of social boycott of a person or group of persons, and their family members, still continues in various parts of the state and the existing laws have not proved effective in tackling the issue.
“Maharashtra will be the first state to pass such a law. It has been a long pending demand of social organisations and activists that stringent measures should be taken to stop the practice of social boycott by jat panchayats. The Bombay high court had also directed the state government to take measures against such practices,” Mr Khadse said.
A government official said that the new law is being enacted as there are not enough deterrent provisions in existing laws to stop disgraceful act of social boycott. “In last year’s budget sessions, a calling attention motion was moved in the Assembly over the issue of social boycott. The CM in reply to the notice had assured that a law will be enacted against the practice of social boycott. Accordingly, the state government has taken the decision,” the official added.
As per the draft bill, “community” means a group, the members of which are connected together by reason or the fact that by birth, conversion or the performance of any religious rites or ceremonies, they belong to the same religion or religious creed, and includes a caste or sub-caste, the official said.
Mr Khadse said that the proposed law will have a provision of jail term upto three years and fine upto Rs 1 lakh against the practice of social boycott. He also said that there would be a provision by which the offenders will be also asked to perform community services like cleaning roads etc.
“The bill aims to root out evil, outdated and unconstitutional practices of caste panchayats, gavki, community panchayats, etc,” Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said after the Cabinet meeting here.
“Strict punishment provisions have been made in this bill to end this harassment and it gives the right to live life with dignity,” the CM tweeted.
