Verdict, a blow against untouchability

In 2018, some members of the dominant caste in the village harassed a woman named Pappal, a transferee from the Arunthiyar community at the Thirumalaikavundampalayam Government High School in Kuttagam panchayat near Sevur in Avinashi taluk of Tiruppur district, saying, ‘Dalit women should not cook.’ Following this, the female cook was transferred.
The incident caused a stir in Tamil Nadu as a government school cook was insulted on the basis of caste and prevented from working. The Sevoor police registered a case against 36 people in connection with the complaint of harassment filed by Pappal. The then District Development Officer Meenakshi, who was included as an accused in this, had obtained a restraining order from the Madras High Court seeking her release from the case.
Accordingly, Meenakshi was released under the special authority of the High Court. 4 people have died. The trial of the case against 31 people was going on in the Tiruppur District SCST Special Court.
Judge M. Suresh delivered the verdict in the case yesterday. Out of the 31 accused, 25 were acquitted. Subsequently, 6 others, namely Palaniswami, Sakthivel, Shanmugam, Velliangiri, Duraisamy and Seethalakshmi, were sentenced to 2 years in prison each and a fine of Rs. 5,000.
Subsequently, all 6 were lodged in the Coimbatore Central Jail. Chef Pappal and her husband Palaniswami had come to the court following the verdict. Even though the verdict was delayed after 7 years, the fact that the convicts were sentenced to prison has given inspiration to the Scheduled Caste community. This verdict has confirmed that the law is equal for everyone.
It is commendable that the team of lawyers, including Special Government Prosecutor Pandian, Senior Advocate P.P. Mohan, and Advocate Syed, have diligently pursued the case for the past 7 years in support of the humiliated person.
No one can deny that despite all the scientific and social reforms that have been carried out, and despite the claim that everyone is equal before the law, untouchability still exists in the country. It can still be seen in some rural areas today. Although it is not as prevalent as before, it has not been completely eradicated. The voice of the Scheduled Castes is now being heard more and more.
Therefore, the Tiruppur verdict will be a blow to those who perpetrate untouchability atrocities against Scheduled Castes with a casteist mentality. There is no doubt that untouchability will be a lesson to those who have perverted ideas!