‘Caste equality has become just a sermon’

Caste violence, riots and their aftermath on human lives have reduced the idea of people living together without caste barriers to just a pravachan (sermon), the Supreme Court has said.

A Bench led by Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya was hearing a public interest litigation petition seeking the rehabilitation of Dalit families displaced in the >2010 Mirchpur (Haryana) riots .

Dalit settlements were targeted and torched in Mirchpur village in Hisar by upper caste men on April 21, 2010. A 70-year-old man, Tara Chand, and his physically challenged daughter were killed in the violence even as about 100 Dalit families fled their homes.

The Bench rued how caste considerations have become a reality even while rehabilitating victims of riots. “Ideally all castes should be living together. Now that has become a

pravachan . All people should be living without fear. Now, there should be at least four policemen with them at all times to protect them,” Justice Mukhopadhaya said on Tuesday.

Earlier, an inspection team commissioned by the court revealed the miserable living conditions of the riot victims.

The court said it was the responsibility of the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government to rehabilitate the victims, who would not go back to their villages, and give them proper land.

“Your government is a political government. You know the ground realities. It is for the government to identify the land keeping in mind all the aspects,” the judge said.