Case in Brief:

PrasannaKumari(36), SC Mala by caste, is working as a Telugu Pandit in Morrlapalem High school since 17^th September 2002. After a few days of Beera Prasanna Kumari (victim) joining the school, Bhamidipati Ramana murthy, OC Brahmin by caste, headmaster of the school verified her certificates.

Knowing from her certificates that she is a Dalit woman, he sarcastically mocked at her whether Dalit people also do Telugu pandit course. He also questioned her whether people eating meat and fish can sing poems well. Also he looking at her surname BEERA, asked her whether she is Mala or Madiga .To this question she answered to look into her certificates. To this the accused had cross questioned that in his village such surname is borne by Madiga and how can victim say that she is Mala. This had hurt the victim. She in turn asked the accused why he asks about the caste which is irrelevant to her job. She also said to gauge her performance in job instead of evaluating her by her caste. The accused had been treating the victim as an untouchable right from the day of joining the school. Also had been degrading the caste to which the victim belongs.

In the school assembly, looking at the victim, he addressed the pupil and abused pupil belonging to Ambekar Banta. The accused had been treating the victim and pupil belonging to the caste of victim very low and deserted them. He had even imposed restrictions on the movement of victim. Situation became so worse and she had to take his permission even to enter washroom.

On 07/12/2008 in the morning the accused called victim on telephone and said her to take few pupils to Don Bosco School for an exam and board them on return bus. Victim went there despite it being a Sunday. After finishing exam, students being thirsty asked for water. Victim’s home being nearby, she had taken them there to have water. Later she boarded them on return bus.

Next morning the accused in presence of the students, villagers and colleagues had shout on the victim for she had taken OC children to her home despite she being a SC. He had used abusive language and was about to assault the victim without even considering that she is a woman. He also warned her against doing such things which according to him do not befit her caste. He had even abused the victim and her caste in filthy language.

Victim had complained this to school committee and Sarpanch. They had questioned the accused about this matter. He then admitted his mistake and sought apology. Also he gave a word that he will not treat victim as untouchable and never abuse her in filthy language. But soon after these committee people and Sarpanch had left the school premises, the accused had raised the children against the victim in every class room. He questioned them whether they want their Mala Teacher or him. He also said he would boycott the classes in the victim’s presence.

On 11/12/2008 when the victim had been to school, pupils were agitating against her. They were shouting slogans for the accused and against the victim. The pupil were so highly estranged that they went to the extent of boycotting classes and exams if victim goes to the school for job. The students also demonstrated dharna in favor of the headmaster. A complaint was reported in Atreyapuram PS.­

Village Narasinhpura is seatuated in the taluka of Kadi of Dt. Mehsana. The total population of village is around 1700. There are approximateli 70 families of Patel community, 70 of Thakor community, nearly 35 of Rabari, Prajapati 1 family, Brahmin 5 & there are 45 houses of Dalit community. The village has got primary school from 1 to 7. There are 3 to 4 temples in the village. The practice of untouchability is found in the village.

On 26-11-2008 at aorund 10 o’clock in the morning Gayatriben D/o Jivanbhai Parmar who is the member of schedule cast was going to the school with her bycycle, at that time near Narmada Bridge bycycle got punchered. At that time the accuse of the case Vishuni Alias Pachaji Kalaji Thakor came there in a Rixo and threatened the victim and took her in the rixo and near Narmada Kenal he took her in the field and rap her against her will. There after he threatened her not to tell anybody and if he tells he would kill her. There after the accused  left her there only and ran away. There after the complenent complained agains the accused on 29-11-2008. The police registed the FIR under the section 363, 376, 504 of IPC and section 3(1)(12) of SCST Act.

M. Kalishwari(5^th Std), K. Anandhi (5^th Std), K. Audaiammal (3^rd Std) are belongs to Dalit Arunthathiyar community. They are studying in the Panchayat Union Primary School in Kaluhumalai. Parents of these three students are working as scavengers in government offices. Knowing that these students belongs to Dalit Arunthathiyar community and their parents are working as scavengers, Head Master Leelavathi asked these students to clean the toilet. They have been exploited by Leelavathi to clean the toilet. These three students reported of dizziness, skin scratches, fever and infection in their body parts. On the enquiry, they reported that their HM asked them to clean the toilets every day. Hence their parents went to the school to enquire about this atrocity (untouchability and discriminatory) practice. On seeing their children being engaged in the manual scavenging activities, they scolded the HM. Concerned parents filed a complaint with the Kalugumalai Police station. After initial denial of this atrocity, the HM admitted of this untouchability practice. As she apologized to the parents of the children, by touching their feet, case was withdrawn and compromised with the Head Master.