2 former Uttar Pradesh DGPs to probe social boycott of Dalits in Hisar village

The Supreme Court has ordered an independent probe by two retired IPS officers into allegations of social boycott of Dalits by a “dominant community” at a village in Hisar district of Haryana.

“We request Vikram Chand Goyal and Kamlendra Prasad, both former DGPs of UP, to carry out an independent investigation into the prevailing situation and file a status report before this court so as to enable us to proceed further in this case,” a Bench led by Justice MM Sundresh ordered on October 16.

The Bench directed the two former DGPs to file a status report within three months, indicating not only the present situation but also the measures, if any, needed to be taken in connection with the allegations of social boycott of Dalits levelled in 2017. “We make it clear that there is no bar on the pending trial to proceed,” said the Bench, which also included Justice Aravind Kumar.

The Bench was informed that no untoward incident had taken place in recent times and “normalcy” was prevailing. It was also apprised of the fact that a chargesheet was filed on August 20, 2017, even as no arrests were made.

The Haryana Police gave a clean chit to six of the seven accused and they were not named in the chargesheet.

In June 2017, a group of Dalit boys was allegedly assaulted by members of a “dominant community” at a Hisar village over the use of a hand pump. An FIR was lodged after six persons were injured and hospitalised after being assaulted.

The top court was told that members of the dominant community, who were hostile to Dalits, were made prosecution witnesses and not a single Scheduled Caste certificate of the 28 complaints/victims of social boycott was taken by the police and submitted along with the chargesheet to the court.

Also, videos given to the police by the victims a call of social boycott given by the dominant community at a public meeting were not mentioned in the chargesheet or produced in court and the sanction for prosecution under Sections 153A and 505 of the IPC was taken belatedly only after the issue was raised by the complainants, the top court was told.

Told to file status report in 3 months

• The Bench has directed the former DGPs to file a status report within three months
• It has asked them to indicate not only the present situation but also steps, if any, needed to be taken in connection with the 2017 allegations of social boycott of Dalits