With the President of India giving assent to the
Maharashtra Prohibition of People from Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition
and Redressal) Act, 2016, Maharashtra has become the first state in the country
to bring a law making social boycott a crime.
The movement, initiated by late Narendra Dabholkar,
gained momentum after he was shot dead and the Maharashtra legislature passed
the law unanimously in 2016. It was pending with the central government for the
President's nod. The President gave the assent on June 20, 2017.
The new law proposes action against extra-judicial bodies
like jat (caste) and community panchayats, and prescribes a maximum punishment
of three years in jail. As per the law, the offence of imposing social boycott
will attract maximum punishment of 3 years in prison or a fine up to Rs.1 lakh
or both. The abetment of the offence also attracts the same punishment and
fine.
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