Fifteen years after registering the case, justice still eludes the SC/ST inmates of the St. Teresa's College hostel, who were reportedly discriminated against on caste grounds.

The case is still lagging in court and till now, only the examination of eight witnesses, including some inmates of the college hostel has been completed.

Though the city police had registered a crime in 2000 in this regard, the trial of the case began at the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court 2 only in 2009. The then college principal Sr. Tessa was arraigned as the first accused in the case. The then hostel warden who died subsequently and Teresa David, the former head accountant of the college were listed as the second and third accused respectively in the case.

The 12 Dalit students who stayed in the college hostel in 1999 were reportedly discriminated against. There were also reports that the SC/ST students were insulted by the college staff when they went to collect their grant from the college office.

The FIR registered by the Kochi city police in 2000 states that the college principal, hostel warden and head accounts officer discriminated the SC/ST inmates of the hostel by housing them together in a dormitory. The case documents accessed by The Hindu said that though there were vacant rooms in the college hostel, those rooms were not allotted to the SC/ST students, who were forced to stay in the dormitory.

GireeshPanju, the assistant public prosecutor, Ernakulam, who is pursuing the case, said summons will be issued to seven other witnesses in the case.

The authorities have booked the case invoking the Section 5 (a) and (b) of the Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act, 1955.

The Section 5 of the Act deals with the "punishment for refusing to admit persons to hospitals, etc." According to the act, "whoever, on the ground of untouchability, refuses admission to any person to any hospital, dispensary, educational institution or any hostels, if such hospital, dispensary, educational institution or hostel is established or maintained for the benefit of the general public or any section thereof; or does any act which discriminates against any such person after admission to any of the aforesaid institutions," shall be punished.

The law prescribes an "imprisonment for a term of not less than one month and not more than six months and also with fine which shall be not less than one hundred rupees and not more than five hundred rupees" for those found guilty in the case.

Sr. Vinitha, director of the college, said students were never discriminated in the college or its hostel. Earlier, there was dormitory system in the hostel, but it was demolished after renovation. The number of hostel inmates has also come down, said Sr. Vinitha, who had also served as the hostel warden earlier.

The Indian Express

Day after Ballabhgarh communal violence: Behind Atali's second brush with violence, a spat over drinking water

http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/day-after-ballabhgarh-communal-violence-behind-atalis-second-brush-with-violence-a-spat-over-drinking-water/

While the Jats in the village admitted that the altercation at the temple had taken place on Tuesday night, they strongly denied allegations about instigating the violence.

An altercation between Jats and Dalits over drinking water eventually led to the second round of communal clashes at Ballabhgarh'sAtali village on Wednesday, according to villagers.

Around 9 pm on Tuesday, while the last prayers of the day were being offered at the village mosque, a kirtan was going on at the adjacent temple.

"Both Dalits and Jats from the village were participating in the kirtan. After it got over, there was an altercation between the two communities over drinking water. A Jat man asked a Dalit to fetch drinking water. But he said it very rudely which led to an argument and a fight," said Mohammad Ehsaan, who said he was present during the incident.

The temple in the village is adjacent to the mosque, which had been the target of miscreants when violence first erupted in the village back in May. Nearly 2,000 armed men had set fire to the mosque as well as to several homes and shops owned by Muslims. Both the temple and mosque source their water from a small pond and a tube well on its edge.

The altercation between the Jats and Dalits ended on Tuesday evening after the police, who had been posted at the mosque, intervened.

But tempers flared once again on Wednesday morning, and the Muslim community also became involved in the argument, said locals.

"The fight between the Dalit man and the Jats evolved into an issue about the mosque and Muslims in the village. Some members of the Jat community became involved and said that Hindus should not fight amongst themselves and (they should) unite against Muslims and our mosque," said Majid Ahmed, a resident.

The Dalits in the village claimed that while there was an altercation between a member of their community and the Jats, they had not been involved in the stone-pelting that took place in the village on Wednesday.

"A Jat man was very rude to the young boy. The boy told him that the Jats only turn to the Dalits when they need something — support for the temple or votes. This led to a fight. But we didn't take part in the stone-pelting. In fact, we locked ourselves inside our homes," said Ravi Kumar, a resident.

While the Jats in the village admitted that the altercation at the temple had taken place on Tuesday night, they strongly denied allegations about instigating the violence.

"The women and children at our temple were praying and not disturbing anyone. But they started throwing stones at us and abusing us, (so) we retaliated. But the police only wants to take the side of the minority. The fact remains that a mosque and a temple can't coexist like this. They will have to leave," said Randeep Singh, a resident.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Muslims from the village is trying to meet Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. "We will be going to his office and we will try and meet him," they said.

The Pioneer

DALIT MAN MURDERED IN PALAMU

http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/ranchi/dalit-man-murdered-in-palamu.html

Friday, 03 July 2015 | PNS | DALTONGANJ | in Ranchi

Police are investigating the murder case of a dalit Ramesh who was found dead with a sharp weapon at Bhusra village last night. The DSP HiraLal Ravi has confirmed the murder of this dalit saying that he used to live with his in law's family member and last night on July 1 around 11.30 Ramesh was murdered. Brutality marked the death as head and throat was hit the hardest way by the weapon, added the DSP.

About the murdered dalit the DSP Ravi said Ramesh had been to Daltonganj jail in 2005 -06 and had come out on bail just 12 months back only.The motive behind the murder is unknown, he said. The in law's family members of the deceased had fled. Police are zeroing on his relatives to crack the case.

The Hindu

Dalit youth burial: security strengthened in Salem, Omalur

HTTP://WWW.THEHINDU.COM/NEWS/NATIONAL/TAMIL-NADU/DALIT-YOUTH-BURIAL-SECURITY-STRENGTHENED-IN-SALEM-OMALUR/ARTICLE7381028.ECE?REF=TPNEWS

SYED MUTHAHAR SAQAF

The law and order machinery was galvanised optimally to ensure elaborate and tight security in Salem city and nearby Omalur town, as the body of the murdered Dalit youth V. Gokulraj was handed over to his relatives and later buried on Thursday.

The body was handed over to his relatives at the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital, and later shifted to the victim's native town.

The city police cordoned off the medical college hospital and its surroundings. Along with a strong police force, a company of Tamil Nadu Special Police Force Battalion, Kovaipudur, was also on guard at the hospital.

The sick and their relatives who came to the hospital were allowed only after being screened at the main entrance to prevent mobilisation of crowd at the hospital campus. Even on the hospital premises, the road leading to the mortuary was sealed blocked till Gokulraj's mother received the body at noon. Only a handful of relatives and VCK cadre were allowed to accompany the mother.

Police personnel were deployed in good number on both of sides of the national highway as the body was taken to Omalur from Salem and police teams accompanied the vehicles that went with the ambulance to Omalur.

At Omalur, the police made security arrangements to regulate the people who flocked to Gokulraj's house in large number.

Business Standard

Census throws up reality check on girl child marriage among SCs

http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/census-throws-up-reality-check-on-girl-child-marriage-among-scs-115070300025_1.html

Bihar leads the pack with over 30,000 girls below the age of 15 years married off that year

BS Reporter | New Delhi

July 3, 2015 Last Updated at 00:22 IST

There are several states where girls were married before they reached 15 years of age among Scheduled Castes in 2011. Bihar leads the pack with more than 30,000 girls below the age of 15 years married off that year, according to Census figures released on Thursday. This was followed by Rajasthan, notorious for child marriages, at 28,644, West Bengal at 26,894 and Madhya Pradesh 18,923.

The argument of economic disadvantage being a principal cause behind such social evils is busted by devastating figures for states generally considered better off. Punjab had 11,845 girls being married off before 15 years, followed by Haryana with 6,822 girls from these castes. Gujarat also saw more than 6,441 such marriages.

The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, penalises the marriage of girls below the age of 18 and boys below 21over 18 years of age who enters into a marriage with a minor be punished with up to two years of imprisonment, or a fine.

There could be more girls married off before the age of 18 years, but the data could not exactly be deduced as figures for the age group of 15-19 are given in this Census.the panel's mandate would be two-fold. It will 'facilitate granting of permissions for both foreign as well as domestic producers from relevant authorities of central and state governments'.

It would also meet regularly to monitor the facilitation process and issue directions to the authorities concerned.

The Hindu

Caste system has not spared even the dead, laments HC

HTTP://WWW.THEHINDU.COM/NEWS/CITIES/MADURAI/CASTE-SYSTEM-HAS-NOT-SPARED-EVEN-THE-DEAD-LAMENTS- HC/ARTICLE7380972.ECE?REF=TPNEWS

MOHAMED IMRANULLAH S.

"What is prevalent and practiced in Hinduism appears to have been percolated into Christianity."

The Madras High Court Bench here on Thursday expressed deep concern over the caste system not having spared even dead bodies from its fold and lamented that the practice had percolated into Christianity too by making the followers of the religion fight among themselves over the right to maintain separate burial grounds for different denominations.

Disposing of a public interest litigation petition related to a dispute between Roman Catholics and Pentecosts over a burial ground at A. Vellodu village in Dindigultaluk, a Division Bench of Justices S. Manikumar and G. Chockalingam said: "Christianity has no caste system. What is prevalent and practiced in Hinduism appears to have been percolated into the above said religion."

Wondering whether the holy Bible allows such a practice, the judges said that it was a question best left to be answered by the conscience of the practitioners "who seek pride in having their caste tags." They rued that the caste system was so deep rooted that people fight over places for burying dead bodies, force revenue officials to convene peace committee meetings and even litigate.

Authoring the judgment, Mr. Justice Manikumar said: "During their lifetime, people fight for rights — customary, personal, property and so on. We are pained to see that even after death, the fight continues for burial… Graveyard is a place to rest. We wish the dead 'Rest in Peace' but on the facts and circumstances of this case, we could see that there is no peace for the living as well as the dead."

The Bench also recalled former judge K. Chandru to have quoted the lyrics of a Tamil song 'SamarasamUlavumIdame…' from the 1956 movie ' RambaiyinKadhal ,' in a decision rendered in 2008 to state: "At least in departure from this world there should be unity and apartheid may not be practised by official acts of Madurai Corporation by maintaining different sheds for different castes at Thathaneri cremation ground."

In so far as the present case was concerned, the judges accepted the submission of Dindigul Revenue Divisional Officer that he had settled the issue by allocating a separate site to be used as burial ground for Pentecosts and said that it should be treated only as an interim arrangement until the Collector resolves the issue by keeping in the mind the Constitutional goal of achieving equality and fraternity.

"We only pray that our religious heads would also address the mass about equality, fraternity and brotherhood," the Bench concluded.

The Hindu

Congress alleges irregularities in issuance of free house site pattas

HTTP://WWW.THEHINDU.COM/NEWS/CITIES/PUDUCHERRY/CONGRESS-ALLEGES-IRREGULARITIES-IN-ISSUANCE-OF-FREE-HOUSE-SITE-PATTAS/ARTICLE7381628.ECE

R. SIVARAMAN

Alleging grave irregularities in the issuance of free house site pattas to people belonging to Scheduled Caste, the Congress leaders on Thursday took up the issue with Lieutenant Governor A.K.Singh seeking his immediate intervention.

Talking to reporters later, Leader of the Opposition and Senior Congress leader V.Vaithilingam said the Lieutenant Governor had been urged to ensure that only genuine poor homeless SC people are issued house site pattas.

The delegation, led by Mr. Vaithilingam and comprising PCC president A.V.Subramanian and Congress MLAs, submitted a memorandum to Mr. Singh.

They said on June 15, free house site pattas were issued to around 300 Scheduled Caste persons who are residents of Seliamedu and Adingapet villages in Bahour commune in gross violation of rules. Unmarried persons, people from adjoining areas in Tamil Nadu and those working in government received the pattas instead of the eligible local residents.

The memorandum alleged that bypassing the 3,150 beneficiaries identified during 2011 by the AdiDravidar Welfare Department under the previous Congress regime was in violation of the Madras High Court's directive to issue pattas to those who were having priority cards issued by AdiDravidar Welfare Department.

The Hindu

73% of households live in rural India

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/73-households-live-in-rural-india-socioeconomic-and-caste-census/article7382614.ece

TCA SHARAD RAGHAVAN

The data also shows the hand-to-mouth existence of large parts of rural India.

Around 73 per cent of households in India are rural, according to the Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) data released by the government on Friday. Of these, 18.5 per cent and scheduled caste households and 11 per cent belong to the scheduled tribe category.

The SECC, jointly released by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Chaudhary Birendra Singh, also shows that the bulk of India's rural households subsist on very low incomes. According to the data, 74.5% of rural households have an income of the highest earning member below Rs. 5000 per month. Only 8.3% of rural households have an income of the highest earning member above Rs. 10,000 per month.

Only the provisional data pertaining to rural India was released on Friday. The Census also provides data on households regarding various aspects of their socio-economic status-housing, land-holding/landlessness, educational status, status of women, the differently-abled, occupation, possession of assets, SC/ST households, incomes, etc.

The data also shows the hand-to-mouth existence of large parts of rural India. For example, over 50 per cent of rural households get the bulk of their incomes from manual casual labour and 56 per cent do not own any land.

News Monitored by Girish Pant & AJEET

Arun Khote
On behalf of
Dalits Media Watch Team
(An initiative of "Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC")

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Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre- PMARC has been initiated with the support from group of senior journalists, social activists, academics and intellectuals from Dalit and civil society to advocate and facilitate Dalits issues in the mainstream media. To create proper & adequate space with the Dalit perspective in the mainstream media national/ International on Dalit issues is primary objective of the PMARC.

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Friday, July 3, 2015

A 15-year long wait for justice.Dalits Media Watch News Updates 03.07.15

Meeting on Dalit Rights and the Law in Bhopal -- June 2013, Part 25

Discrimination case against St. Teresa's College hostel drags on

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