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The bill also provides for a jail term of up to three years and a fine of ₹1 lakh for violations.
The ‘Karnataka Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill, 2025’, introduced in the Assembly by Social Welfare Minister HC Mahadevappa, lists 20 forms of social boycott, including refusal to work for hire or do business; Denial of opportunities, including access to services or contractual opportunities to provide services.
Furthermore, obstruction in participation in social, religious or community functions, gatherings, assembly, meeting or procession; social exclusion on any grounds; blocking access to facilities; breakdown of relationships; among others.
According to the Bill, it has been observed that unconstitutional practices like ostracism, imposition of various punishments by extra-judicial bodies like caste or community panchayats etc. are still in vogue in various communities of the State, resulting in great oppression to the individuals or groups in living their lives with dignity.
Stating that this has an adverse effect on the social life of the community and promotes ill-will and animosity in the society, it said, ”It is, therefore, necessary to eliminate these evil and unconstitutional practices from the society.” The Bill further states that the existing laws are found inadequate to deal with such practices, and therefore the government deems it appropriate to enact a law.
“It is accordingly proposed to prevent the evil practices of social exclusion, social discrimination and imposition of social disabilities at various levels by caste or community Panchayats or its members and to prescribe penalties for such social exclusion. It is also proposed to appoint a Social Exclusion Prohibition Officer.”
The Bill makes it clear that social boycott is prohibited and its practice and conduct will be a crime.
“Any person who imposes or imposes or causes any social boycott on any member of his community shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees or with both,” he said.
It says, any assembly or congregation of persons to discuss social boycott will be ‘unlawful’ and can be punished with a fine of up to ₹1 lakh.
It further states that every person who aids or abets the commission of an offense shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to ₹1 lakh or with both.
Any offense punishable under this proposed law will be cognizable and bailable.
The Bill provides for the government to appoint a Social Boycott Prohibition Officer to detect offences.
The government also introduced the ‘Greater Bengaluru Governance (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the Assembly on Thursday.
The bill, introduced by Minister Mahadevappa on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, amends the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024 to include members of the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Assembly and State Legislative Council as members of the Greater Bengaluru Authority.
There is also a provision to include the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department and Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary, Finance Department as ex-officio members of the Authority. Also appointing Additional Chief Secretary Urban Development Department as a member of the Executive Committee.
It also provides that – Re-division of wards in respect of newly included local areas should be made within a specified period; To bring clarity in the conduct of elections for newly added local areas in the Greater Bengaluru region; among other things.