Telangana High Court Steps in to Protect Scheduled Caste Family from Social Ostracism
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has taken significant action on behalf of a Scheduled Caste (Madiga) family facing severe social ostracism in Medak district. The family, led by petitioner P Chandram, was pressured by villagers to abandon their new life in favor of their traditional occupation of playing the ‘dappu’ (drum) during village ceremonies, despite Chandram having secured a private job in the city.
Justice B Vijaysen Reddy directed the Medak Superintendent of Police to provide immediate protection to P Chandram and mandated the District Collector to take necessary measures for the relief and rehabilitation of the ostracized family.
Chandram, a 33-year-old post-graduate in commerce from Osmania University, moved to the city for better employment opportunities. However, he faced escalating pressure from the villagers over recent months, culminating in a Gram Sabha meeting on September 10 where he was summoned and ordered to resign from his job. When he refused, the villagers passed a resolution to socially boycott him and his family.
The situation escalated to the point where Chandram’s family struggled to secure basic necessities, such as milk for their five-year-old daughter. His counsel, V Raghunath, highlighted that other students had begun to shun her due to fear of repercussions from the villagers.
Chandram lodged a complaint with the Manoharabad police, leading to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR). However, the subsequent lack of action prompted him to seek further help, as the harassment and threats from villagers continued unabated. Villagers even issued fines for those who violated the boycott and threatened physical punishment.
Frustrated by the inaction of police authorities, who merely visited the village without serious follow-up, Chandram expressed his concerns in his petition. The court’s intervention underscores the pressing need for protection and justice for marginalized communities facing social discrimination.
