Govt urges SC to ban ‘inhuman’ practice of Dalits rolling on Brahmins’ food leftovers

September,14,2016:

Govt. says such like rituals cannot be covered under the right to freedom of religion under the Constitution

Centre has urged to the Supreme Court to ban the 500-year-old temple ritual which is prevalent in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in which Dalits roll over the leftover food of the Brahmins to apparently cure various skin diseases, solve marriage problems and infertility.

The practice has been called  “inhuman and superstitious, affecting human dignity and health" by the Social Justice Ministry.

But it has been stated by the defendants that the practice doesn’t discriminate on basis of caste and thus it is voluntary.

In the state of Karnataka,this particular ritual is being  followed since 500 years during the three-day annual celebrations at Kukke Subrahmanya in South Canara district in November-December and in Tamil Nadu the custom is seen every April as part of  Aradhana festival of the Nerur Sadasiva Bharmendrai Temple in Karur District.

The Union ministry stated that such a ritual cannot be shielded under the Right to Freedom of Religion under the Constitution.