The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday directed the Virudhunagar Collector to file a report on alleged social boycott of nearly 22 Dalit families residing at Erunjirai in Tiruchuli taluk.
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Passing interim orders in a public interest litigation petition filed by a resident of the village, a Division Bench comprising Justice Chitra Venkataraman and Justice M. Duraiswamy ordered that the report be filed within four weeks. The matter was adjourned thereafter.
Petitioner’s counsel R. Alagumani said that there was some improvement in the treatment meted out to the Dalits since the institution of the PIL petition in 2007 and consequent visit of the Collector to the village on February 27, 2008.
The Dalit residents were allowed to use the public pathway. Shopkeepers were selling goods to them in contravention of a diktat issued by caste Hindus. However, barbers and washermen refused to render their services, fearing they might incur the wrath of the dominant castes. The Dalits had to go to another village for a hair cut.
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Counsel also claimed that the Dalits were served tea in disposable cups at all six stalls in the village and the caste Hindus in stainless steel or glass tumblers.
"A modern type of double tumbler system is being practised here," he said.