TCN News
A shocking incident of alleged caste-based harassment has surfaced in Bihar, where CPI(ML) legislator Gopal Ravidas was allegedly denied the right to inaugurate a government school building due to his Scheduled Caste status. The incident occurred on Republic Day (January 26, 2025) in Kurthaul, Patna district.
Mr. Ravidas said, I went with my supporters to inaugurate the new government school building that was constructed based on my recommendation. About fifty members of the dominant caste began to demonstrate against me as soon as I arrived there at 3 p.m.
“I was not only denied the right to inaugurate the school building, but I was also denied the right to hoist the national flag,” he added.
Ravidas claimed that the situation turned violent, forcing him to leave the premises to avoid further confrontation.
The legislator has filed a complaint, naming three individuals who allegedly made casteist remarks. Based on the complaint, the police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) and imposed several sections of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
The two sections that have been imposed under SC/ST Act, includes Section 3(1)(r)(s), stipulates that anyone who is not a member of a SC or a ST and purposefully insults or intimidates a member of a SC or a ST in a public setting faces a minimum sentence of six months in prison and a maximum sentence of five years, in addition to a fine.
The other section, 3(2)(va), states that if someone commits any of the Schedule’s listed offenses against a person or piece of property while knowing that the victim is a member of a SC or ST or that the property belongs to a member, they will be subject to the penalties outlined in the Indian Penal Code (45 of IPC 1860) for those offenses as well as a penalty.
According to Section 126(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), unjust restraint is when someone voluntarily blocks their path, prohibiting them from moving in whatever direction they are entitled to. The penalty for the offense is a fine of up to ₹5,000, simple imprisonment for a maximum of one month, or both.
Section 115(2) stipulates that anyone who willfully causes harm, unless specifically exempted by sub-section (1) of Section 122, faces a maximum sentence of one year in either type of jail, a maximum fine of ₹10,000, or both.
Menka Rani, Station House Officer of the Parsa Bazar police station, confirmed that an FIR has been lodged and an investigation is underway. However, she refrained from commenting on whether casteist remarks were used against Ravidas.