Karnataka's Social Boycott Bill proposes 3-year jail, Rs 1 lakh fine

Belagavi: The government introduced in the Assembly a Bill to prohibit and criminalize social boycott of persons, especially by self-appointed caste panchayats, with a jail term of up to three years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh.

The Karnataka Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill, piloted by Law Minister H K Patil, lists 19 forms of ostracization, which includes refusal to do business, denying opportunities, obstruction from participation in events or blocking access to facilities and cutting-off of ties.

“It has been observed that unconstitutional practices such as boycotts, imposition of various punishments by extrajudicial bodies such as caste or community panchayats etc are still in practice (sic) in various communities in the state,” the Bill states.

“The existing laws are found to be inadequate in dealing with such practices.” 

Any assembly or congregation of persons to discuss imposing a social boycott will be “unlawful” and attract a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh. Aiding or abetting social boycotts will result in up to three years’ jail and Rs 1 lakh in fine.

Under the proposed law, the government will appoint a Social Boycott Prohibition Officer to detect offences.

GBG Bill

The government also introduced the Greater Bengaluru Governance (Second Amendment) Bill in the Assembly on Thursday. The Bill seeks to include Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs, MLAs and MLCs as members of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). The chief secretary and heads of the urban development and finance departments will also get seats in the GBA, as per the Bill.