Karnataka govt tables bill criminalising social boycott

Karnataka has tabled the Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill, 2025, criminalising caste-based and other social boycotts. Violators may face up to three years in jail and a fine of Rs 1 lakh, with a dedicated officer to oversee enforcement

Belagavi (Karnataka): Karnataka government on Thursday tabled a bill in the Assembly that prohibits and criminalises social boycott of a person or a group of persons, including their family, especially by “caste panchayats”.

The bill also provides for a jail term of up to three years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh for violation. The ‘Karnataka Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill, 2025’ that was tabled in the Assembly by Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa lists 20 forms of social boycotts, which include refusal to deal with, work for hire, or do business; denying opportunities, including access to services or contractual opportunities for rendering services.

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Also, obstruction from participation in social, religious, or community functions, congregations, assembly, meeting or procession; committing social ostracism on any grounds; blocking access to facilities; cutting off of ties, among others.

As per the bill, it has been observed that the unconstitutional practices such as boycotts, imposition of various punishments by extra-judicial bodies such as caste or community panchayats, etc., are still in practice in various communities in the state, resulting in great harassment to individuals or groups in leading their lives with dignity.

Stating that this has adverse effects on the social life of the community and has given rise to ill feelings and disharmony in society, it said, “It is therefore necessary to eradicate these evil and unconstitutional practices from society.”

The bill further states that the existing laws are found to be inadequate in dealing with such practices, and the government, therefore, considers it expedient to enact legislation.

“It is accordingly proposed to prevent the evil practices of imposition of social boycott, social discrimination, and social disabilities at various levels by caste or community panchayats or by their members and prescribe punishment for such social boycott. It is also proposed to appoint the social boycott prohibition officer,” it said.

The bill makes it clear that social boycott is prohibited and its commission and practice shall be an offence. “Any person who imposes or causes to impose or practice any social boycott on any member of his community, shall on conviction be punished with imprisonment of either description, which may be extended to three years or with a fine which may be extended to rupees one lakh or with both,” he said.

It said, any assembly or congregation of persons to discuss imposing a social boycott will be “unlawful” and attract a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh. It further says that every person who aids or abets the commission of an offence shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years or with a fine which may extend to Rs one lakh or with both.

Any offences punishable in this proposed legislation shall be cognizable and bailable. The bill provides for the government to appoint a Social Boycott Prohibition Officer to detect offences.

The government also tabled “The Greater Bengaluru Governance (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the Assembly on Thursday. The bill tabled by Minister Mahadevappa on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar amends the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024, to include the members of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assembly, and State Legislative Council as members of the Greater Bengaluru Authority.

It also provides for including the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary Urban Development Department, and the Additional Chief Secretary or the Principal Secretary Finance Department as ex officio members of the authority. Also, to appoint the Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department, as a member of the executive committee.

It also provides for the re-division of wards in respect of newly incorporated local areas to be carried out within a specified period, bringing clarity to the conduct of elections for newly added local areas to the Greater Bengaluru region, among other things.