The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday cleared a bill aimed at curbing the social boycott of people and communities in the state, especially in rural areas.
The Karnataka Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill, 2025, is set to be introduced in the Winter Session of the state legislature, which is set to begin on December 8 in Belagavi, Law Minister H K Patil said on Thursday.
“It has been observed that the unconstitutional practices such as boycotts, imposition of various punishments by extra-judicial bodies such as caste or community panchayats, etc., are still in practice in various communities in the state, resulting in great harassment to individuals or groups in leading their lives with dignity,” the proposed bill states.
“This has adverse effects on the social life of the community and has given rise to ill feelings and disharmony in the society. It is therefore necessary to eradicate these evil and unconstitutional practices from society,” it adds.
With existing laws found inadequate in dealing with such practices, the state government thinks legislation is needed to prevent social boycott, discrimination and social disabilities at various levels, which is especially seen in cases of inter-caste marriages, Patil said.
The social boycotts imposed by “caste or community panchayats or by its members or by socially or economically influential persons or groups of persons” will be a punishable offence that will be monitored by a ‘social boycott prohibition officer’, the proposed law states.
The new bill has been compared to the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act, 2017, which was also piloted by the state social welfare department, and the Maharashtra Protection of People from Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2016.
Social boycott prohibition officer to be appointed
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A punishment of imprisonment up to three years with a fine of ₹ 1 lakh has been proposed under the law, where denial of opportunities, access to public services, refusal to do business, obstruction to religious, social events, and marriages, and expulsion of members of a community are considered as crimes under the purview of a social boycott.
“The social boycott is hereby prohibited and its commission shall be an offence. Any person who imposes or causes to impose any social boycott on any member of his community, shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment of either description, which may extend to three years, or with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees, or with both,” the bill states. A portion of the penalty amount imposed under the law can be given as compensation to the victim of the social boycott, it adds.
“The state government may, by notification in the official gazette, designate any officer not below the rank of Group ‘A’ officer of the government, as the social boycott prohibition officer as it may consider necessary and may also notify the area or areas within which he shall exercise the powers and perform duties as may be prescribed,” the proposed law says.