Supreme Court Warns Haryana Govt For Not Cooperating With Committee Enquiring Alleged Social Boycott Of Dalits

The Supreme Court yesterday (March 24) warned the State of Haryana that it would initiate contempt proceedings if the State continued its non-cooperation with the Court appointed Committee to investigate the alleged social boycott of the Dalits in village Bhatia, Haryana.

In this case, the petitioners, all from the Dalit community, approached the Supreme Court alleging a social boycott imposed on them in 2017 in village Bhatia, Tehsil Hansi, district Hissar. It is stated that an issue arose when a group of Dalit boys were assaulted by the dominant community over the use of a local hand pump used for drawing water. 

In October last year, the Court constituted a two-member committee of Shri Vikram Chand Goyal, Former DGP, 1975 UP, and Mr. Kamlendra Prasad, Former DGP, 1981 UP to make an independent inquiry and file a status report after the prosecution submitted that the Haryana police gave a clean chit to 6 out of 7 accused persons in a complaint signed by 28 Dalit victims. It also directed Haryana to extend all logistic support, including expenses.

Yesterday, Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves, for petitioners, submitted that the Court's order has not been complied with as no logistic support has been provided by State of Haryana. He stated that the two-member committee has communicated via a letter thrice, that they are ready to visit once the logistic support is provided. 

Justice Sundresh asked the State's counsel, "What is this counsel? You have to cooperate. See the letter dated 21.1.25...Is this the way the order of the Court has to be implemented?"

State of Haryana's counsel, Advocate Arjun Garg, stated that he was not in receipt of any of the letters. Justice Bindal responded that letters are a part of the office report and he ought to have been in receipt of that.

The Court thereafter ordered: "We have perused the latter dated January 21, 2025, written by Shri Mr. Kamlendra Prasad, DGP (retired). The aforesaid communication depicts a very sorry state of affairs. Despite efforts being undertaken, the State is not willing to cooperate. Counsel for State assures court all cooperation be extended including requisite cost and travel arrangement for stay of the individuals. We made it clear that continued non-cooperation of the State would lead to initiate of contempt proceedings. Post the matter after six weeks."

Against the assault of the dalit members, the FIR was registered. After the Dalit community refused to withdraw it, the dominant community and the Haryana police issued a call for a social boycott as stated in the petition.

"On 2.7.17, the village chowkidar of the Village Bhatia made a public announcement in the basti of the scheduled caste, restricting the entry of the members of the Scheduled caste community, into residence areas and fields of the Brahmin; dominant community. On the very same day, access to ration, dairy shops and saloons were stopped. Moreover the water supply to the Dalit, Scheduled Caste community, were also stopped," the petition stated.

It is further argued: "From 7.7.17 onwards dalit community had registered a series of FIRs and complaints with the police over the continuing social boycott and threats..."

The petitioners first approached the High Court seeking direction of CBI to investigate the criminal matters relating to three FIRs, all lodged in 2017, and further for orders stopping the social boycott. The petition says that this is because the local police and the investigation officers are completely on the side of the dominant community.

Case Details: JAI BHAGWAN AND ORS. v. THE STATE OF HARYANA AND ORS|W.P.(Crl.) No. 293/2019

Appearances: Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves and Advocate Manik Gupta for petitioners