SC Orders Independent Probe By Former DGPs Into Social Boycott Of Dalits In Haryana Village

The Supreme Court has directed two former Directors General of Police from Uttar Pradesh to conduct an independent probe into allegations of social boycott against Dalit individuals in a Haryana village. 

A top court bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and Aravind Kumar passed the order, requesting Vikram Chand Goyal, former DGP, 1975 UP and  Kamlendra Prasad, former DGP, 1981 UP to start probe into the matter. The bench also requested a status report from the former DGPs within three months.

The petitioner filed a status report in which it was mentioned that videos given to the police showing the call of the social boycott by the dominant community in a public meeting were not mentioned in the chargesheet or produced in court. “Sanction for prosecution under 153A and 505 IPC not taken by the police. Only after objection was taken by the complainants was sanction taken belatedly. Trial yet to begin,” the report read.

Tensions erupted in Punjab’s village in June 2017 as a group of Dalit boys faced an assault by members of the dominant community over the use of a hand pump for drawing water. The violent incident left six individuals hospitalized and prompted the filing of a First Information Report (FIR). 

However, when the Dalit community refused to withdraw their police complaint, the dominant group issued a social boycott, orchestrated by an unregistered organization known as the Bhaichara Committee. 

The matter was initially considered by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, but the community faced a relentless social boycott.  In response to these grievances, a plea has been submitted to the Supreme Court, urging a CBI investigation into the allegations and the prosecution of those responsible for the prolonged discrimination. 

"There has never been such a severe and protracted social boycott of a village of Dalit community comprising of about 500 houses for such a protracted period of over one and half years as in the present instance," the plea said, as quoted by Live Law.