The Rajasthan High Court at Jodhpur, in a detailed common order dated 10 April 2026 passed by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Farjand Ali in a batch of connected criminal writ and miscellaneous petitions, expressed grave concern over the persistent menace of extra-constitutional caste panchayats imposing social boycotts, coercive monetary penalties and mental harassment upon individuals. The Court observed that the petitions raise “grave and multifaceted concerns which strike at the very root of individual liberty, dignity and constitutional protections.” It further noted that the issues pertain to “the imposition of social boycott, coercive monetary exactions, and the infliction of trauma and mental harassment at the hands of self-styled Panchs” and that “such actions, as alleged, not only transgress the bounds of lawful authority but also amount to a blatant suppression of the petitioners fundamental rights, warranting immediate judicial scrutiny and intervention.”
The batch of petitions, including S.B. Criminal Writ Petition No. 1344/2025 (Deepa Ram Meghwal) and connected matters such as S.B. Criminal Misc(Pet.) No. 1720/2021, S.B. Criminal Writ Petition Nos. 434/2025, 625/2025, 1076/2025, 1306/2025, 2187/2025, 2219/2025, 2410/2025, 6974/2025 and 7473/2025, arose from FIRs registered in various districts of Rajasthan including Sirohi, Barmer, Jodhpur, Balotra, Jalore, Nagaur and Beawar. In each case, the petitioners alleged that self-styled panchayat members convened unlawful meetings, imposed exorbitant penalties running into lakhs of rupees, enforced “Hukka-Pani band” (complete social ostracism), issued threats of violence, public humiliation and excommunication, and interfered in personal choices such as marriages and customary practices. Specific instances included boycott for using a band and horse during a marriage without panchayat approval, ostracism following inter-caste marriages, coercive demands after a death feast, retaliation for filing complaints against community members, and pressure to withdraw cases involving outraging of modesty. The petitioners contended that these actions created an atmosphere of fear, particularly affecting women and marginalised sections, and that police authorities failed to take effective action despite repeated complaints and representations.
The High Court recorded that these writ and miscellaneous petitions involve “an identical question of law” and were therefore heard together and are being decided by this common order. After carefully delineating the factual matrix of each FIR, the Court identified the common thread running through the matters as the unlawful functioning of self-styled panchayats that operate without any legal authority. It emphasised that such bodies have no sanction under law and their diktats directly infringe upon the fundamental rights guaranteed under Part III of the Constitution. The Court observed that the petitioners have been constrained to invoke the extraordinary jurisdiction of this Court due to the continuing infringement of their rights and the apparent legislative vacuum in effectively addressing and curbing this social menace.
The High Court made it clear that the actions complained of are ex facie violative of constitutional protections and warrant immediate judicial scrutiny. While the full operative directions are contained in the detailed order, the ratio decidendi of the judgment is that “such actions, as alleged, not only transgress the bounds of lawful authority but also amount to a blatant suppression of the petitioners fundamental rights, warranting immediate judicial scrutiny and intervention.” The petitions were argued by senior counsel Mr. Anand Purohit and others for the petitioners, while the State was represented by the Additional Advocate General and other law officers. The Court has now reserved the matter for pronouncement of the final operative part after considering the rival submissions and the materials on record.
Case Title: Deepa Ram Meghwal v. State of Rajasthan & Ors. (and connected petitions) | S.B. Criminal Writ Petition No. 1344/2025
Coram: Hon’ble Mr. Justice Farjand Ali
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