The word “Untouchability” has not been defined properly either in Constitution or in any act yet its evil is present in nearly every sphere of life and practiced in an infinite number of forms. At the village level Dalits are barred from using wells used by non-Dalits, forbidden from going to the barber shop and entering temples, while at the level of job recruitment and employment, Dalits are systematically paid less, ordered to do the most menial work, and are rarely promoted. Untouchability is a direct product of the caste system. It is not merely the inability to touch a human being of a certain caste or sub-caste. It is an attitude on the part of a whole group of people that relates to a deeper psychological process of thought and belief, invisible to the naked eye, translated into various physical acts and behaviours, norms and practices.
Though the Constitution of India, under Article 17 legally abolishes the practice of “untouchability,” and there are constitutional reservations in both educational institutions and public services for Dalits, unfortunately, these measures have not changed the reality of daily life for most Dalits, as the Indian government frequently tolerates oppression and open discrimination aimed at this group. Notably The Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee of India, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the former President of India K.R. Narayanan, are belong to “Dalit” class. K. Ramaswamy ,J. aptly remarked in the case of State of Karnataka V. Appa Balu Ingale[1] ” The abolition of untouchability is the arch of the Constitution to make its preamble meaningful and to integrate the dalits in the national mainstream”. Now we are in the 21st Century yet we are not been fully able to recover ourselves from this social evil. Government has to take more initiative steps to aware as well as educate people about this Social menace.
[1] AIR 1993, SC 1126
Post Contributed By:
SOUMYA PRATIK DUTTA
Research Assistant
Indian Institute of Legal Studies
