Shelters in Maharashtra for inter-religious and inter-caste married couples? Here’s everything you need to know – Firstpost

Several recent cases of attacks on inter-caste and inter-religious couples have raised concerns in many parts, including Maharashtra.

Now, the Maharashtra Home Department has planned to introduce a standard operating procedure to ensure their safety, along with guidelines to establish shelter homes for them.

Earlier this month, the Bombay High Court ordered the Maharashtra Ministry of Social Justice and Home Affairs to draft a policy circular to protect inter-faith and inter-caste marriages.

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How shelters will be created for interfaith and inter-caste couples

Pursuant to the Supreme Court’s decision in the Shaktivahini v. Central Government case and the directives of the Bombay High Court, the department has ordered the creation of special cells headed by police commissioners and superintendents in cities and towns. districts to protect religions and castes. couples, India Times reported.

The names of the heads and members of these special cells will be published on the websites of the respective superintendents and superintendents of police, the report said. A dedicated helpline, 112, has also been set up for this purpose, with the assurance that information received via this number will remain confidential.

A government resolution issued by Deputy Secretary Ashok Naikwade says the state government will soon establish shelter homes for married couples, according to YOU. These will be located in government rest homes, with at least one room reserved in each district’s circuit home. If such rooms are not available, government quarters at the Tehsil headquarters will be allocated for their use.

If none of these options are feasible, special units have been called upon to find private rental accommodation for couples. The cost will be covered by the Ministry of Social Justice, which will oversee these arrangements, including the management of guest houses or private accommodation, according to the report.

Besides, district collectors and social justice department officials will be responsible for ensuring that all relevant information is published on their websites. This information must be submitted regularly to the Bombay High Court.

The Director General of Police, Commissioners, Collectors and Superintendents will have the duty to inform the State government about the progress and arrangements being made for the safety of these couples, the circular said, according to YOU.

What did the court say?

During the hearing of the petition, a division bench comprising Justice Revati Mohite-Dere and Justice Shivkumar Dige questioned the joint secretary of the Ministry of Social Justice and Home Affairs on whether any shelters had been identified in various districts of Maharashtra.

The bench suggested that government guest houses in every district could serve as safe places for couples with security concerns.

He said: “Since the number of people facing such problems is not that large, you (state) just need to make sure that it is designated for this purpose across the state and not just in Mumbai and Pune. Statehouses always have a police presence, so you don’t need to deploy additional forces.”

According to The Indian Expresssenior advocate Mihir Desai and advocate Lara Jesani, appearing for the petitioners, submitted a memorandum detailing the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure the safety and protection of these couples. They referred to similar circulars issued by other states, suggesting that the shelter concept should be widely publicized. They also proposed setting up a toll-free helpline, as seen in the Delhi and Chandigarh SOPs, to help couples facing threats to their safety due to their relationship choice.

About six years ago, the Supreme Court ordered all states to create shelters for couples facing security threats due to inter-caste or inter-religious marriages. However, Maharashtra is yet to identify and publicize such facilities.

The MANS hideout in Satara

The Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (MANS), founded by the late rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar, has set up a shelter in Satara district to protect inter-caste and inter-religious couples.

According to MANS, these couples often face severe negative reactions from their families and society, which can go to extreme lengths to punish those who marry for love, Hindustan Times reported.

MANS President Dr Hamid Dabholkar said this is the first shelter of its kind, intended to provide protection and security to inter-caste couples whose safety is threatened due to their choice of marriage, according to the report.

This safe house was built by Dr Dabholkar on land owned by MANS activist Shankar Kanse. The program to provide safety and shelter to newlywed couples is run by Adhar Sanstha, a social organization.

Attacks on inter-caste and inter-religious couples

Here are two recent cases of attacks on inter-caste and inter-religious couples:

In Tamil Nadu, five members of a family, including the mother of a newlywed, were arrested earlier this year for allegedly kidnapping and assaulting his wife and husband, The new Indian Express reported.

The accused have been charged under the provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, along with offenses relating to kidnapping and harassment of women. They were taken into custody.

In another incident, four men were arrested in Hyderabad after a video went viral showing them assaulting an interfaith couple near Charminar, India today reported.

The video showed a group of Muslim men confronting a man holding a baby, accompanied by his wife wearing a burqa. Thinking the man was Hindu, they attacked him several times, expressing objection to his being in Charminar with a Muslim woman, the report said.

With the contribution of agencies