Orissa High Court Orders District Authorities Of Puri To Enquire Alleged Excommunication Of Three Families As ‘Untouchables’

While dictating the order, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Dr. S. Muralidhar and Justice Murahari Sri Raman also directed,

“Wherever corrective action is needed to be taken the Collector and SP will ensure that it is so taken without waiting for further orders. The machinery of law should be put in motion if the enquiry reveals that untouchability was in fact practised against the victim families.”

Counsel for the petitioners informed the Court that despite there being stringent law against untouchability, the victim families were being thrown out of their village being considered as untouchables. The Additional Government Advocate for the State also suggested the Court to pass a direction to the DSWO, Puri to make an enquiry and submit a detailed report.

The Court noted that an affidavit was filed by the petitioner stating, inter alia, that three families residing under Brahmagiri Tahsil in Puri district were exploited and compelled to live in cyclone shelters as a result of the practice of untouchability.

“The details of the said families and the copies of the representations made to the authorities have been enclosed. These representations are stated to be pending for over three years now. To add to their woes, the victim families are stated to have been driven out even from the cyclone shelter on account of the COVID-19,” the Court added.

Accordingly, it directed the DSWO to immediately visit the families, to meet the authorities and to submit a detailed report before the next date. He is also ordered to suggest the corrective action to be taken.

The Court directed the Collector as well as the Superintendent of Police, Puri to extend all cooperation and assistance to the DSWO to carry out the order of the Court.

Case Title: Sesadeb Subudhi v. State of Odisha & Ors.

Case No.: W.P.(C) No. 4600 of 2019