The Supreme Court has come down heavily against the Haryana government for not cooperating with a Court-appointed Committee investigating the alleged social boycott of Dalits in Bhatia village of the state.
The Bench of Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Rajesh Bindal on Tuesday warned the State that it would initiate contempt proceedings if it continued its non-cooperation in the case.
The Apex Court made the observations while on a petition alleging social boycott of Dalits imposed by the member of an upper caste community in 2017 in Bhatia village of Haryana.
As per the petitioners, all members of the Dalit community, a group of Dalit boys were assaulted by a dominant community over the use of a local hand pump used for drawing water.
In October 2024, the Apex Court constituted a two-member committee comprising Vikram Chand Goyal, former DGP of Uttar Pradesh and Kamlendra Prasad, also a former UP DGP, to make an independent inquiry and file a status report.
The top court of the country passed the order after the prosecution submitted that Haryana police gave a clean chit to six out of seven accused in a complaint signed by 28 Dalit victims.
Appearing for the petitioners, Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves submitted on Tuesday that the Apex Court’s 2024 order was yet to be complied with. No logistic support had been provided by the State, despite the two-member committee communicating via a letter thrice that they were ready to visit once the logistic support was provided, he added.
Perusing the letter dated January 21, 2025, written by Kamlendra Prasad, DGP (retired), the Bench berated Advocate Arjun Garg, appearing for the State, and asked whether this was how the Apex Court order should be implemented.
Advocate Garg said that he was not in receipt of any of the letters.
The top court of the country said that the letters were a part of the office report, and the Counsel ought to have been in receipt of that.
Terming the development as a ‘very sorry’ state of affairs, the Bench said despite the efforts being undertaken, the State was not willing to cooperate.
Taking on record the assurance given by Advocate Garg that all cooperation would be extended, including the requisite cost and travel arrangement for the stay of the individuals, the Bench warned that continued non-cooperation of the State would lead to the initiation of contempt proceedings.
The top court of the country has listed the matter for further hearing after six weeks.
The petitioners contended that an FIR was registered against the assault of the Dalit community members in Bhatia village. After they refused to withdraw the same, members of the dominant community and the Haryana police issued a call for social boycott of the Dalits.
As per the plea, the chowkidar of village Bhatia made a public announcement on July 2, 2017, restricting the entry of Scheduled Caste community persons into the residential areas and fields of the Brahmin-dominant community.
The access of the SC members to ration, dairy shops and saloons, along with the water supply, was also stopped, the petition stated.
The Dalit community members have registered a series of FIRs and complaints with the police over the continuing social boycott and threats since July 7, 2017, noted the plea.
The petitioners initially approached the High Court seeking direction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate the criminal matters relating to three FIRs, all lodged in 2017, and further for orders stopping the social boycott.
The petitioners alleged that the local police and the investigation officers were imparting full support to the dominant community.