Nine Panchayat Men Booked for Social Ostracisation Of Woman in Rajsamand Village

Rajasthan— The deplorable practice of social ostracisation has been a long-standing issue within Indian society, particularly in Rajasthan. In a similar incident from Udaipur, a woman who was married to a man in Rajsamand's Relmagra in May 2013 was ostracised by the community panchayat who kept her out of the social circles for someone and a half years. The problem began when the woman left her husband's home after he started harassing her over dowry demands. The woman fled back to Udaipur and filed a case against the husband at the Mahila Thana but has been reeling under a traumatic experience since.

During this difficult time, she was sexually exploited by one Kanhaiyalal of Ladpacha, who preyed on her vulnerability. When the Hiran Magri police arrested Kanhaiya, the woman's husband found out and sought to punish his wife for the dowry case. He connived with the community panchayat men and had her ostracized. The panchayat member expelled her and penalized with Rs 31000 in order to revoke the expulsion. However, they did not take her back into the community even after many months, further causing immense distress to her.

The woman then approached the Relmagra police and Rajsamand SP to file a complaint but was refused. Despite numerous reminders, the police refused to register her complaint. When all hope seemed lost, she turned to the office of the Inspector General of Udaipur range for help; on whose directive, the Relmagra police finally has registered her complaint.

Not taken back despite paying penalty

The woman testified that even after one and a half years of ostracisation, she has not been taken back into the community and is being kept out of social circles. She also stated in her complaint that her husband produced fake papers to expunge her name from the Janadhar card and married another woman without obtaining a divorce.

When her husband and Panch members were summoned to the Relmagra station on March 12th, they made her sign an agreement for a settlement. The Panch members also threatened her, stating that they would not let her back into the community and would not revoke the ostracisation.

Bharat Yogi, the Station House Officer at Relmagara police station, said that the penalty receipt has been obtained from the complainant, and if evidence of ostracisation is found to be true, the accused men would be arrested.

Ostracisation: Violation of Fundamental Rights

Ostracisation is a serious issue that can have profound psychological and social impacts on individuals and families, experts believe. The feeling of isolation can lead to anxiety, depression and extreme mental agony.

"Ostracisation by panchayats, particularly in rural areas, is a prevalent issue in Rajasthan. Panchayats are village-level self-governing bodies that are responsible for resolving local disputes and promoting the welfare of the community. However, in some cases, these panchayats have been reported to engage in acts of social exclusion and ostracism against individuals or families who have allegedly violated community norms or traditions" says Dr. Rajkumari Ahir, a sociologist in Udaipur.

According to legal experts, ostracisation is a violation of individual's fundamental rights and dignity. They claim, the practice of ostracisation by panchayats is particularly pervasive against women who are accused of marrying outside their caste or community, or who are perceived to have defied norms, violated cultural stereotypes by their behavior or clothing. "In some cases, women who are accused of such offenses are subject to public humiliation, harassment, and even physical violence, in addition to being ostracized by the community. There are laws to address ostracisation by panchayats, however, despite the legal protections in place, ostracisation by panchayats remains a pervasive issue " says Arpit Paliwal, an advocate in Rajsamand.

Lawyer and activist Dr. Deepti Sharma emphasizes on holding dialogues and awareness programs by legal bodies to address the deep-rooted traditions.

"It is crucial to ensure the effective implementation of laws and policies aimed at combating such practices and promoting the rights of individuals and communities. A more comprehensive dialogue among communities and government structures could help to address and eradicate such harmful practices altogether" Deepti says.

Previous incidents of ostracisation in Rajasthan

Case Study 1: Dalit Man Ostracised and Killed for Owning Horse in Jaipur

A Dalit man named Hariram Meghwal from Jaipur was ostracized by his upper-caste neighbours after he bought a horse, a symbol of wealth and pride for his community. Hariram was subjected to harassment, boycott, and social exclusion. He was later killed by his upper-caste neighbors when he refused to sell his horse. (The Times of India, April 14, 2016.)

The incident highlights the prevalence of caste-based violence and discrimination against Dalits, who are routinely subject to ostracization and violence for crossing caste boundaries.

Case Study 2: Banished from Village for Marrying Outside Caste in Dholpur

In Dholpur district, a young couple was forced to flee their village after their families objected to their inter-caste marriage. The couple, who were deeply in love, defied their families and community traditions to marry. However, their defiance was met with fierce resistance, and they were forced to flee their village after being threatened with violence. (The Times of India, June 25, 2016)

The incident illustrates the deep-rooted prejudices and intolerance prevalent in India's rural society. Inter-caste marriages are still relatively uncommon in many parts of the country, and those that do take place often result in ostracism, excommunication and social boycotts.

Case Study 3: Upper Castes Ostracise Dalits for Challenging Caste Panchayats in Jhunjhunu

In a village in Jhunjhunu district, Dalit villagers were ostracised by upper-caste members after they challenged the authority of the caste panchayat. The panchayat tried to impose a social boycott on the Dalit community, but they resisted and approached the authorities for help. (The Indian Express, March 23, 2018)

Case Study 4: Elderly man boycotted for opposing child marriages in Chittorgarh

A 65-year-old man in Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh district, lodged a complaint against a khap panchayat that passed Hukka Pani Bandh diktat to socially boycott him for 12 years for opposing child marriages and Mrityubhoj. (The Times of India, Oct 17, 2020)