One of the ubiquitous caste panchayats in Haryana has intervened to deprive a young couple of their10-day-old child while ruling that the couple belonging to the same “gotra” (sub-caste) could only be treated as brother and sister.

The shocking incident has taken place at Kallahri village in Karnal district of Haryana when the caste panchayat which was already riled against the couple for having flouted the caste norms to get married last year and took them to task after they returned to the village earlier this week.

The young couple, Pawan and Kavita, had fled to Mumbai last year for fear of attracting the wrath of the panchayat for flouting the caste norms.

When they returned after a year with their 10-day-old child, the panchayat was in no way to forgive and forget.

Elders’ meet
A meeting of the village elders quickly pronounced its verdict asking Pawan and Kavita to stay away from each other and asked their respective parents to take them away to their homes.

It ruled that since both of them belonged to the same Valmiki gotra they could be treated only as brother and sister.

The sarpanch of the village, Rajesh Kumar, while pronouncing the fiat also announced that the panchayat would take custody of the child.

The panchayat has handed over the care of the infant to another family in the village.

Besides, the caste panchayat also slapped a fine of Rs 65,000 on the hapless couple.

A heart-broken Pawan said he would approach the police and district administration against the “unjust’ decision of the panchayat.

“In one stroke the panchayat has taken away my child and my wife from me. It is cruel,” he said.

Caste cauldron
However, given the caste conundrum in Haryana where many young couples who have defied the caste panchaysts have been made to pay with their lives, the plight of Pawan and Kavita may hardly find support.
Even politicians, police and administration have in the past chosen to turn a blind eye to such decisions of panchayats leaving the vulnerable couples at the mercy of lynch mobs of caste panchayats.

On occasions, the administrative machinery has been reluctantly made to move on the intervention of courts.