(1)
Whoever-
(a) prevent any person from
exercising any right accruing to him by reason of the abolition of
“untouchability” under article 17 of the Constitution; or
(b) molests, injures, annoys,
obstructs or causes or attempts to cause obstruction to any person in the
exercise of any such right or molests, injures, annoys or boycotts any person
by reason of his having exercised any such right; or
(c) by words, either spoken or
written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise, incites or
encourages any person or class of persons or the public generally to practise
“untouchability”in any form whatsoever; or
(d) insults or attempts to insult, on
the ground of “untouchability” a member of Scheduled Castes.
shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term of
not less than one month and not more than six months, and also with fine
which shall be not less than one hundred rupees and not more than five
hundred rupees.
Explanation (IA) person shall be
deemed to boycott another person who
(a) refuses to let to such other
person or refuses to permit such other person, to use or occupy any house or
land or refuses to deal with, work for hire for, or do business with, such
other person or to render to him or receive from him any customary service, or
refuses to do any of the said things on the terms on which such things would be
commonly done in the ordinary course of business; or
(b) abstains from such social,
professional or business relations as he would ordinarily maintain with such
other person.
Explanation II for the purpose of
clause
(c) a person shall be deemed to incite or
encourage the practice of “untouchability”.
(i) if he, directly or indirectly,
preaches “untouchability” or its practice in any form; or
(ii) if
he justifies, whether on historical, philosophical or religious grounds or on
the ground of any tradition of the caste system or on any other ground, the
practice of “untouchability” in any form.
(1A) Whoever commits any offence against the person
or property of any individual as a repraisal or revenge for his having
exercised any right accruing to him by reason of the abolition, of
“untouchability” under article 17 of the Constitution, shall, where the offence
is punishable with imprisonment for a term exceeding two years, be punishable
with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than two years and also
with fine.
(2) Whoever
(i) denies to any person
belonging to his community or any section thereof any right or privilege to
which such person would be entitled as a member of such community or section,
or
(i) takes
any part in the ex-communication of such person, on the ground that such person
has refused to practice “untouchability” that such person has done any act in
furtherance of the objects of this Act,
shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term of
not less than one month and not more than six months, and also with the fine
which shall be not less than one hundred rupees and not more than five hundred
rupees.
