Ratlam Village Panchayat Imposes Social Boycott on Families Over Love Marriages
In a controversial move that has drawn widespread criticism, a village panchayat in the Piploda tehsil of Ratlam district has issued a diktat calling for the total social and economic boycott of families whose children opt for love marriages. This decision, which directly challenges constitutional rights, was made in Panchewa village following reports that eight young men and women have eloped to get married over the past six months.
Details of the Boycott Decree
The decision was finalized during a meeting of village elders and local residents held three days ago. In videos that have since gone viral on social media, a man is seen reading from a register, listing stringent points of the boycott to a large gathering of villagers. The village council has imposed the following sanctions on offending families:
- Essential Services Cut: Barbers (Nais) and priests (Pandits) are forbidden from serving these families.
- Economic Blockade: No villager is allowed to buy milk or other goods from them. Furthermore, their farmland cannot be taken on lease by anyone in the village.
- Social Isolation: The families will not be invited to any social or religious events.
- Secondary Boycott: Anyone found helping the couple, acting as a witness to the marriage, or providing shelter to them will also face immediate social expulsion.
Villagers' Justification and Backlash
Local residents defended these harsh measures, claiming they were necessary to deter other youths from following suit. "In just six months, eight youngsters have run away. It is having a bad influence on our children," a villager stated, highlighting the community's concerns about changing social norms. However, the decree has sparked significant anger among the families whose names were publicly called out during the meeting. These families are now reportedly planning to approach the Ratlam Collector to seek protection and file a formal complaint against what they deem an unconstitutional move.
Administrative and Legal Response
Following the circulation of the videos, Jaora SDM Sunil Jaiswal dispatched Piploda Janpad CEO Brahma Swarup Hans to the village on Sunday evening to talk to the locals. "The boycott of any family for the reason of love marriage is completely illegal. We have been in contact with the villagers, explaining the law to them and urging them to maintain harmony. Our efforts are to ensure peace and to make certain that no injustice is done to any person," Jaiswal told TOI. Legal experts have pointed out that such "Khap-style" diktats are a direct violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution, including the right to life and liberty and the right to choose a life partner. Administrative officials have confirmed that they are reviewing the video footage to identify the primary instigators and will take action based on the findings, potentially leading to legal consequences for those involved.
This incident underscores ongoing tensions between traditional community practices and modern legal frameworks in rural India, raising questions about the enforcement of constitutional rights at the grassroots level.
