In a recent development, the Chennai High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to take action against three police officers who forcibly subjected a husband, wife, and son to caste-based derogatory remarks. This incident took place in the Sengam area of the Tiruvannamalai district in 2016 when an auto-rickshaw driver named Raja, along with his wife and son, were confronted by members of a support group.
At that time, the support group, including individuals named Murugan, Kaavalargal Namazhvar, and Vijayakumar, resorted to caste-based derogatory remarks and harassment, which was captured in videos that went viral on social media platforms.
Following the incident, Raja filed a case against the three individuals, accusing them of caste-based harassment. However, the judicial process had been delayed as the High Court had previously declined to register a case against the accused. Subsequently, after a thorough investigation, the court has now ordered legal action against the three individuals for using caste-based derogatory language and harassment.
The court has directed that a compensation of Rs. 50,000 be provided to the victims and that the accused individuals pay a penalty of Rs. 50,000 each for their actions. The court has also ordered that the police complete their investigation within 12 weeks and remove the accused from their positions, emphasizing the seriousness of addressing caste-based harassment.
This development underscores the importance of taking a strong stance against caste-based harassment and name-calling in public, sending a significant message about the consequences for such actions.