Caste Panchayat Fines Woman Rs 2.5 Lakh Over Father-in-Law's Marriage; Next 7 Generations Ostracized

While caste discrimination is prohibited under the Constitution, such practices are relevant in some parts of the country even today. A man was excommunicated by his caste panchayat after he fell in love and married a woman within his caste. His family was also asked to pay a hefty fine of Rs 2.5 lakh by the caste panchayat.

When his son and daughter-in-law were not able to pay the outstanding fine, the council decided to excommunicate them as well as their next seven generations from the caste group. A case was the registered by the daughter-in-law against eight members from the caste panchayat in the Ashti police station of Maharashtra’s Beed district.

The daughter-in-law, Malan Phulmali resides near the Kada Sugar Factory of Ashti taluka of Beed district with her husband, two sons and a daughter. They belong to the Nandiwale Tiramali caste. Phulmali has filed a complaint with the police stating that after her father-in-law had a love marriage within the caste, the caste panchayat objected to this and imposed a fine of Rs 2.5 lakh on their family. Since her family was not able to pay the fine, they were ostracized from the caste.

Recently, a caste panchayat was held at Doithan village of Maharashtra’s Beed district on September 22. Malan Phulmali was called by the panchayat and was ordered to pay the outstanding fine. However, when she stated that her family will not be able to pay, the caste panchayat issued a decree that Phulmali’s family and their next seven generations will be excommunicated from the caste.

The complaint registered at the police station mentioned caste panch Gangadhar Palve (resident of Dhangarwadi village, Nevasa taluka), Uttam Phulmali (resident of Jeur village, Nevasa taluka), Ganga Phulmali (resident of Patsara village in Ashti taluka), Chibhu Phulmali (resident of Doithan village, Ashti taluka), Subhash Phulmali (resident of Shani Shingnapur village, Nevasa taluka), Baburao Phulmali (resident of Nimgaon, Karjat taluka), Shetiba Kakade (Valki village), Sayaji Phulmali (resident of Pimpalner village) and Gulab Palve (resident of Dhangarwadi).