SC notice to Centre, Mah govt over use of word ‘Dalit’

29 August, Nagpur

he Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court today issued notices to Centre and Maharashtra government on a Public Interest Litigation seeking directions on prohibiting use of word ‘Dalit’ in official matters as well as in media and other public places.

During the hearing on the PIL filed by social activist Pankaj Meshram stating the use of word ‘Dalit’ as unconstitutional, a Division bench of Justices Bhushan Dharmadhikari and Atul Chandurkar issued notices to both the government and sought reply within three weeks.

“Even Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of Indian Constitution, had opposed usage of word ‘Dalit,’ Mr Meshram stated in his PIL.

Further, the social activist in his PIL, referred to the judgments of Supreme Court (SC) and Chief Justices of different courts in this regard. The Madras High Court had also agreed and termed the use of word ‘Dalit’ by Tamil Nadu government as unconstitutional.
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes is also of the opinion that the word shows discrimination and casteism.

“The use of word ‘Dalit’ violates Articles 14, 15, 16, 17, 21 and 341 of Indian constitution. The Governments many times assured to remove the word from official documents and schemes but it has not happened yet. Instead of using the word ‘Dalit’, the word Scheduled Castes or Neo Buddha could be used,” the PIL argued.

The PIL has made Joint Secretary of Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Joint Secretary of Press Council of India, Chief Secretary of Maharashtra State, Principal Secretary of Urban Development Department as respondents.

The HC has issued notices to all these respondents and sought their replies within three weeks.