Maharashtra Legislative Assembly approved Social Boycott Bill 2016

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on 13 April 2016 unanimously approved the Prohibition of Social Boycott Bill, 2016. The bill seeks to crack down on extra-judicial bodies like caste and community panchayats.

Maharashtra cabinet approved the draft Maharashtra Prohibition of Social Boycott Bill, 2016 on 1 March 2016.

The bill will be sent for Governor's assent to enact the Law.Maharashtra will be the first state in the country to enact a law against social boycott.

Features of the Bill

• In this bill, Indulging in social boycott is treated as a crime.

• The bill provides for prohibition of social boycott of a person or group of persons, including their family members as an individual or as a group like caste panchayat.

• The bill states that social boycott is prohibited and its commission shall be an offence.

• The maximum punishment for the offence will be seven years in prison or fine up to 5 lakh rupees or both.

• It also states that maximum punishment for extending aid in relation to the commission of offence will be three years or 3 lakh rupees or both.

• As per the bill, the victim or any member of the victim's family may file a complaint either through the police or directly to the magistrate.

• To ensure speedy justice, the trial shall be completed within a period of six months from the date of filing of the charge sheet.

• Social Boycott Prohibition Officers will be appointed to detect the commission of offences, to assist the magistrate and police officers in discharge of their duties under the Act.

• The burden of proving that no offence under this Act have been committed, shall lie on the accused.

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