Arumugam Servai Vs. State
of Tamil Nadu
Ajit Kumar and others
Vs. State of Tamil Nadu
J U D G M E N T
MARKANDEY KATJU, J.
"Har zarre par
ek qaifiyat-e-neemshabi hai Ai saaki-e-dauraan yeh gunahon ki ghadi hai" -
Firaq Gorakhpuri
"We hold these
truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed
by their creator by certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness" - American Declaration of Independence,
1776
1.
Over
two centuries have passed since Thomas Jefferson wrote those memorable words, which
are still ringing in history, but a large section of Indian society still
regard a section of their own countrymen as inferior. This mental attitude is
simply unacceptable in the modern age, and it is one of the main causes holding
up the country's progress.
2.
Leave
granted.
3.
These
appeals have been filed against the common judgment and order of the Madras High
Court dated 25.1.2008 in Criminal Appeal Nos. 536-37 of 2001 upholding the judgment
of the Leaned 4th Additional District and Sessions Judge, Madurai.
4.
The
allegation against the appellants is that on 1.7.1999, there was an altercation
between the appellants and the complainants PW1 Panneerselvam and PW2 Mahamani in
a Temple Festival regarding the method of tying bullocks in the Jallikattu. The
appellant Arumugam Servai then insulted PW1 by saying "you are a pallapayal
and eating deadly cow beef". Then accused 1, 7 and 9 attacked PW1 with sticks
causing him injuries on his left shoulder. When PW2 Mahamani intervened he was
attacked by the accused with sticks, and he sustained a fracture on his head,
on which there was a lacerated wound.
5.
Apart
from the two injured eye-witnesses, there are 3 other eye-witnesses to the occurrence.
The doctor has testified to the injuries. The head fracture on Mahamani
indicates the deadly intent of the accused.
6.
Both
the Courts below have believed the prosecution case, and we see no reason to
differ. We have carefully perused the testimony of the witnesses, and we see no
reason to disbelieve them.
7.
The
accused belong to the `servai' caste which is a backward caste, whereas the complainants
belong to the `pallan' caste which is a Scheduled Caste in Tamilnadu.
8.
The
word `pallan' no doubt denotes a specific caste, but it is also a word used in
a derogatory sense to insult someone (just as in North India the word `chamar' denotes
a specific caste, but it is also used in a derogatory sense to insult someone).
Even calling a person a `pallan', if used with intent to insult a member of the
Scheduled Caste, is, in our opinion, an offence under Section 3(1)(x) of the
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities Act), 1989
(hereinafter referred to as the `SC/ST Act'). To call a person as a
`pallapayal' in Tamilnadu is even more insulting, and hence is even more an
offence.
9.
Similarly,
in Tamilnadu there is a caste called `parayan' but the word `parayan' is also used
in a derogatory sense. The word `paraparayan' is even more derogatory.
10.
In
our opinion uses of the words `pallan', `pallapayal' `parayan' or `paraparayan'
with intent to insult is highly objectionable and is also an offence under the
SC/ST Act. It is just unacceptable in the modern age, just as the words
`Nigger' or `Negro' are unacceptable for African-Americans today (even if they
were acceptable 50 years ago).
11.
In
the present case, it is obvious that the word `pallapayal' was used by accused No.
1 to insult Paneerselvam. Hence, it was clearly an offence under the SC/ST Act.
12.
In
the modern age nobody's feelings should be hurt. In particular in a country
like India with so much diversity (see in this connection the decision of this Court
in Kailas vs. State of Maharashtra in Crl. Appeal No. 11/2011 decided on 5.1.2011)
we must take care not to insult anyone's feelings on account of his caste, religion,
tribe, language, etc. Only then can we keep our country united and strong.
13.
In
Swaran Singh & Ors. vs. State thr' Standing Counsel & Anr. (2008) 12
SCR 132, this Court observed (vide paras 21 to 24) as under:
"21. Today the
word `Chamar' is often used by people belonging to the so- called upper castes
or even by OBCs as a word of insult, abuse and derision. Calling a person `Chamar'
today is nowadays an abusive language and is highly offensive. In fact, the word
`Chamar' when used today is not normally used to denote a caste but to intentionally
insult and humiliate someone.
22. It may be
mentioned that when we interpret section 3(1)(x) of the Act we have to see the
purpose for which the Act was enacted. It was obviously made to prevent
indignities, humiliation and harassment to the members of SC/ST community, as
is evident from the Statement of Objects & Reasons of the Act. Hence, while
interpreting section 3(1)(x) of the Act, we have to take into account the popular
meaning of the word `Chamar' which it has acquired by usage, and not the etymological
meaning. If we go by the etymological meaning, we may frustrate the very object
of the Act, and hence that would not be a correct manner of interpretation.
23. This is the age
of democracy and equality. No people or community should be today insulted or looked
down upon, and nobody's feelings should be hurt. This is also the spirit of our
Constitution and is part of its basic features. Hence, in our opinion, the
so-called upper castes and OBCs should not use the word `Chamar' when addressing
a member of the Scheduled Caste, even if that person in fact belongs to the
`Chamar' caste, because use of such a word will hurt his feelings. In such a
country like ours with so much diversity - so many religions, castes, ethnic and
lingual groups, etc. - all communities and groups must be treated with respect,
and no one should be looked down upon as an inferior. That is the only way we can
keep our country united.
24. In our opinion, calling
a member of the Scheduled Caste `Chamar' with intent to insult or humiliate him
in a place within public view is certainly an offence under section 3(1)(x) of the
Act. Whether there was intent to insult or humiliate by using the word `Chamar'
will of course depend on the context in which it was used".
14.
We
would also like to mention the highly objectionable two tumbler system prevalent
in many parts of Tamilnadu. This system is that in many tea shops and restaurants
there are separate tumblers for serving tea or other drinks to Scheduled Caste persons
and non-Scheduled Caste persons. In our opinion, this is highly objectionable, and
is an offence under the SC/ST Act, and hence those practicing it must be
criminally proceeded against and given harsh punishment if found guilty. All administrative
and police officers will be accountable and departmentally proceeded against if,
despite having knowledge of any such practice in the area under their jurisdiction
they do not launch criminal proceedings against the culprits.
15.
In
Lata Singh vs. State of U .P. & Anr (2006) 5 SCC 475, this Court observed
(vide paras 14 to 18) as under: "
16.
This
case reveals a shocking state of affairs. There is no dispute that the
petitioner is a major and was at all relevant times a major. Hence she is free
to marry anyone she likes or live with anyone she likes. There is no bar to an
inter-caste marriage under the Hindu Marriage Act or any other law. Hence, we cannot
see what offence was committed by the petitioner, her husband or her husband's
relatives.
17.
We
are of the opinion that no offence was committed by any of the accused (the
couple who had an inter caste marriage) and the whole criminal case in question
is an abuse of the process of the Court as well as of the administrative machinery
at the instance of the petitioner's brothers who were only furious because the
petitioner married outside her caste. We are distressed to note that instead of
taking action against the petitioner's brothers for their unlawful and
high-handed acts (details of which have been set out above) the police has instead
proceeded against the petitioner's husband and his relatives.
18.
Since
several such instances are coming to our knowledge of harassment, threats and
violence against young men and women who marry outside their caste, we feel it
necessary to make some general comments on the matter. The nation is passing
through a crucial transitional period in our history, and this Court cannot remain
silent in matters of great public concern, such as the present one.
19.
The
caste system is a curse on the nation and the sooner it is destroyed the
better. In fact, it is dividing the nation at a time when we have to be united
to face the challenges before the nation unitedly. Hence, inter-caste marriages
are in fact in the national interest as they will result in destroying the caste
system. However, disturbing news are coming from several parts of the country
that young men and women who undergo inter-caste marriage, are threatened with violence,
or violence is actually committed on them. In our opinion, such acts of violence
or threats or harassment are wholly illegal and those who commit them must be
severely punished. This is a free and democratic country, and once a person
becomes a major he or she can marry whosoever he/she likes. If the parents of
the boy or girl do not approve of such inter-caste or inter-religious marriage
the maximum they can do is that they can cut off social relations with the son
or the daughter, but they cannot give threats or commit or instigate acts of violence
and cannot harass the person who undergoes such inter-caste or inter- religious
marriage. We, therefore, direct that the administration/police authorities
throughout the country will see to it that if any boy or girl who is a major
undergoes inter-caste or inter-religious marriage with a woman or man who is a
major, the couple are not harassed by any one nor subjected to threats or acts
of violence, and any one who gives such threats or harasses or commits acts of
violence either himself or at his instigation, is taken to task by instituting
criminal proceedings by the police against such persons and further stern
action is taken against such persons as provided by law.
20.
We
sometimes hear of `honour' killings of such persons who undergo inter-caste or inter-religious
marriage of their own free will. There is nothing honourable in such killings, and
in fact they are nothing but barbaric and shameful acts of murder committed by
brutal, feudal minded persons who deserve harsh punishment. Only in this way
can we stamp out such acts of barbarism".
21.
We
have in recent years heard of `Khap Panchayats' (known as katta panchayats in
Tamil Nadu) which often decree or encourage honour killings or other atrocities
in an institutionalized way on boys and girls of different castes and religion,
who wish to get married or have been married, or interfere with the personal
lives of people. We are of the opinion that this is wholly illegal and has to be
ruthlessly stamped out. As already stated in Lata Singh's case (supra), there is
nothing honourable in honour killing or other atrocities and, in fact, it is
nothing but barbaric and shameful murder. Other atrocities in respect of
personal lives of people committed by brutal, feudal minded persons deserve
harsh punishment. Only in this way can we stamp out such acts of barbarism and
feudal mentality. Moreover, these acts take the law into their own hands, and
amount to kangaroo courts, which are wholly illegal.
22.
Hence,
we direct the administrative and police officials to take strong measures to prevent
such atrocious acts. If any such incidents happen, apart from instituting
criminal proceedings against those responsible for such atrocities, the State Government
is directed to immediately suspend the District Magistrate/Collector and SSP/SPs
of the district as well as other officials concerned and charge sheet them and proceed
against them departmentally if they do not (1) prevent the incident if it has not
already occurred but they have knowledge of it in advance, or (2) if it has occurred,
they do not promptly apprehend the culprits and others involved and institute
criminal proceedings against them, as in our opinion they will be deemed to be
directly or indirectly accountable in this connection.
23.
The
appellants in the present case have behaved like uncivilized savages, and hence
deserve no mercy. With these observations the appeals are dismissed.
24.
Copy
of this judgment shall be sent to all Chief Secretaries, Home Secretaries and
Director Generals of Police in all States and Union Territories of India with
the direction that it should be circulated to all officers up to the level of
District Magistrates and S.S.P./S.P. for strict compliance. Copy will also be sent
to the Registrar Generals/Registrars of all High Courts who will circulate it
to all Hon'ble Judges of the Court.
.................................J.
(Markandey Katju)
.................................J.
(Gyan Sudha Misra)
New
Delhi;
19th
April, 2011
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