Seeking action against a self-appointed panchayat that boycotts families involved in inter-caste marriages in Pune, the Shri Goud Brahmin Samaj Anayaya Nivaran Samiti has filed a petition in the Bombay high court.
The samiti, formed by members of the Shri Goud Brahmin Samaj in Pune, has alleged that six members of the community have formed a panchayat which has been passing judgments against families that allow marriages out of their caste. So intransigent are the ‘panchas’ against withdrawing a social boycott call that they refuse to let an ostracised family member attend the funeral of any relative, unless the family agrees to pay up to just get a glimpse of the kin, claims the petition.
The petition, filed through advocate Asim Sarode, alleged that the ‘fine’ runs into lakhs of rupees and “no receipt is issued for the same”. The samiti now wants action against this parallel justice system started by the community.
Some boycotted members had approached the Bibewadi police in Pune on November 14 last year, but the police refused to lodge a complaint.
The petition stated that one of the members had approached the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) against the social boycott last year. The SHRC transferred the complaint to Kothrud police station, but there has been no progress, it alleged. Adding the law and judiciary department, the education ministry and the social welfare and social justice department as respondents, it asked that the ‘panchas’ be arrested. It has also sought framing of an effective law against social discrimination.
The petition will come up for hearing next week.
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