1. Five arrested in Madurai Dalit woman gang rape case
Five people have been arrested in connection with the alleged gang rape of a Dalit woman in Madurai. A non-governmental organisation has urged police to invoke provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in addition to other criminal charges. The investigation is continuing. �
The Times of India
2. Compensation recommended for Dalit youth's family in Pudukkottai
Police have recommended ₹6 lakh compensation for the family of a Dalit youth who was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu. Authorities continue to investigate the case. �
The Times of India
3. Anti-untouchability remains a national concern
Recent commentary highlights that, despite constitutional guarantees of equality, caste discrimination and untouchability continue to affect access to education, employment, justice, and public spaces. Rights groups continue to call for stronger enforcement of constitutional protections. �
SabrangIndia
4. Ambedkarite Buddhist movement continues social justice outreach
Across India, Ambedkarite Buddhist organisations continue to organise educational programmes, Dhamma discussions, and constitutional awareness campaigns inspired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's vision of equality and fraternity. �
Ambedkarite organisations hold Constitution awareness programmes
Student groups, social organisations, and Ambedkarite associations continued organising lectures, reading circles, and discussions on constitutional values, equality, fraternity, and social justice inspired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's work. �
Wikipedia
Legacy of Ambedkar's Buddhist movement continues
The Dalit Buddhist movement inspired by Dr. Ambedkar remains an important force for social equality, with educational and community programmes continuing across several states. �
Five people have been arrested in connection with the alleged gang rape of a Dalit woman in Madurai. A civil society organisation has urged police to invoke provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in the case. The investigation is ongoing. �
The Times of India
Pudukkottai: Relief recommended
Police have recommended ₹6 lakh compensation for the family of a Dalit youth who died under suspicious circumstances in Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu. Authorities continue to investigate the case. �
The Times of India
Rights groups renew call to eliminate untouchability
Writers and rights advocates continue to highlight the persistence of caste discrimination and untouchability, calling for stronger enforcement of constitutional protections and anti-atrocity laws. �
Tribal organisations seek stronger implementation of the Forest Rights Act
Adivasi organisations across several states continued to demand faster recognition of forest rights, protection of tribal land, and better implementation of welfare schemes. Community leaders also called for greater representation in local governance and development planning. �
Drishti IAS
ST reservation remains under discussion
Discussions continued on political representation and the implementation of reservation policies affecting Scheduled Tribes in different states. Community organisations urged governments to ensure constitutional safeguards are fully implemented. �
Navayana Buddhist organisations continue social outreach
Ambedkarite Buddhist organisations held Dhamma classes, youth meetings, and constitutional awareness programmes promoting equality, fraternity, and social justice inspired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. �
Wikipedia +1
Preparations continue for Dhammachakra Pravartan Day
Community organisations have begun preparations for Dhammachakra Pravartan Day, commemorating Dr. Ambedkar's historic conversion to Buddhism at Deekshabhoomi in 1956. �
Supreme Court ruling on SC status after religious conversion continues to be discussed
Legal experts and social organisations continued to discuss the Supreme Court's 2026 judgment reaffirming that Scheduled Caste status under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, is limited to Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists. The judgment has prompted debate over constitutional policy and social justice. �
Drishti IAS
Demand for reservation benefits for Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims continues
Several organisations reiterated their demand for extending reservation benefits to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims through legislative or constitutional changes. �
Five people were arrested in connection with the alleged gang rape of a Dalit woman. A rights organisation has requested that police invoke the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act along with other criminal provisions. The investigation is ongoing. �
The Times of India
Tamil Nadu – Pudukkottai
Police recommended ₹6 lakh compensation for the family of a Dalit youth who died under suspicious circumstances. Authorities said the investigation is continuing. �
Students are encouraged to apply for Central and State Post-Matric Scholarships for SC/ST students as application windows open according to state schedules.
Universities continue to announce admissions under reserved categories.
Campus News
The Ambedkar Students' Association continued programmes on constitutional rights, scholarships, and implementation of reservation policies for SC/ST students. �
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar argued that constitutional democracy requires not only laws but also a commitment to equality, liberty, and fraternity. Current debates on reservation, caste discrimination, and implementation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act reflect continuing efforts to realize these constitutional principles. �
1927: Mahad Satyagraha strengthened the movement for equal access to public resources.
1956: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's conversion to Buddhism laid the foundation of the modern Navayana Buddhist movement.
1972: Formation of the Dalit Panthers marked a new phase in Dalit social and political activism. �
Wikipedia +1
Upcoming Events
Preparations are underway in many places for Dhammachakra Pravartan Din, commemorating Dr. Ambedkar's historic conversion to Buddhism at Deekshabhoomi. �
Tehri Dalit Teen Murder Case: Case Registered Based on a Complaint from the Girl’s Mother
New information has emerged in the Tehri Dalit teen murder case. A case has been filed based on the girl’s mother’s complaint.
SouthAsians & Diaspora
Tehri: A new twist has emerged in the recent murder of a Dalit teen in Tehri district, Uttarakhand. According to the police, after the minor girl’s medical examination, a case has been registered at Lambgaon police station based on the girl’s mother’s complaint. A case has been filed under various sections, including the POCSO Act. The investigation will be conducted by female SI Hemlata.
In fact, around 11 pm on the night of June 7-8, a minor teen from a village in the Lambgaon police station area went with his friend to a nearby village to meet his friend (a love affair case). The girl’s family members apprehended the two boys.
It is alleged that the girl’s family members assaulted the two boys, leaving them seriously injured. Both were subsequently admitted to the hospital, where the minor girl’s friend (boyfriend) died. Based on a complaint filed by the deceased boy’s family, the police arrested four people, including the girl’s father and grandfather. The deceased minor boy’s friend is an eyewitness to the incident, and the police have now filed a case under the POCSO Act.
The minor girl’s mother also filed a complaint with the police station, but the police did not register a case. However, the High Court later ordered the police to hear the minor girl’s side of the story. Following this, on July 11, the Lambgaon police station filed a case under the POCSO Act against the deceased’s friend, who was also an eyewitness to the incident.
Investigating officer and CO Chandramohan stated that female SI Hemlata has been authorized for this purpose. Led by the former village head of the minor girl, people also met with Tehri SSP Shweta Choubey, demanding harsh punishment for the culprits and a change in the investigating officer.
Courtesy: Hindi News
Rape case filed against ‘murdered’ Dalit youth after HC prod
Dehradun: In a fresh turn of events in the Tehri Garhwal suspected “honour killing” case, Uttarakhand police have registered a case of gang-rape against the deceased 16-year-old Dalit youth and his friend.
GeographicReference
The action follows a directive from the high court after the parents of the minor upper-caste girl presented a medical examination report suggesting sexual assault.
The FIR was registered on Sunday after the direction of the court following a formal complaint by the girl’s mother. Tehri Garhwal SSP Shweta Chaubey confirmed to TOI that a case of gang-rape has been filed under BNS Section 70 alongside relevant sections of the Pocso Act.
“On the basis of the complaint, the minor deceased youth and his friend were named in the case. However, as the minor is no more, we have taken appropriate legal action under relevant provisions while considering the medical examination report. A probe is ongoing,” said SSP Chaubey.
The case dates to June 7, when the 16-year-old Dalit boy was allegedly beaten to death by the minor girl’s family members. According to the initial police investigation, the boy and his friend had gone to the girl’s house late at night after receiving a phone call from her. The girl’s family allegedly caught them, leading to the fatal physical assault.
Legal
Following the teenager’s death, police had registered a case of murder and physical assault, subsequently arresting four accused individuals, including the girl’s father and grandfather.
The investigations into both the murder and the subsequent sexual assault allegations are currently underway.
Courtesy : TOI
Inhuman: Supreme Court denies anticipatory bail to Kerala professor Dr. MK Ram in Dalit student suicide case
A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta termed the professor's conduct as inhuman and underscored that he cannot walk away without facing consequences.
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the appeal filed by Kannur Dental College professor, Dr. M Kodanda Ram, who is accused of verbally harassing a Dalit student, Nithin Raj, who died by suicide in April [Dr. M Kodanda Ram v State of Kerala & ors].
KVAFSU unveils statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in campus in Bidar, holds seminar on his ideals
Vice-Chancellor K.C. Veeranna says Ambedkar’s ideals of equality, education and social justice remain relevant for nation-building
KVAFSU Vice-Chancellor K.C. Veeranna and other dignitaries offering floral tributes to the newly-unveiled statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU) in Bidar.
Remembering Ambedkar Through a Jatav Protagonist: Caste in ‘Raakh’
The mention of the surname Jatav in the recent crime drama Raakh (2026) is a significant cinematic moment in itself in terms of the representation of Dalit protagonist as an assertive manner in Bollywood canvass. Set in Delhi in the late 70s, the series stars Ali Fazal as Sub-Inspector Jayprakash Jatav who probes the kidnapping and murder of children in a city dealing with crime. On one hand, the series is a crime thriller, but at the same time it is also an important commentary on Dalit protagonist and how the law and order which he deals with, actually, deals with him.
The Significance of the Surname “Jatav”
The surname Jatav is hardly seen in mainstream Hindi cinema. In the caste hierarchy of Indian society the Jatav community has traditionally been linked with the Chamar caste and has remained among the most marginalized groups for generations. They were mostly associated with leather work and tanning and faced untouchability and social exclusion for centuries. Even in films and other forms of visual culture their presence has been limited and when they did appear they were usually shown through stereotypes rather than as fully developed people with their own voices and experiences. Seen through this lens the series does something different. It places a Jatav police officer at the center of a high profile investigation. This gives much greater visibility to Dalit representation and brings a Dalit protagonist into a cinematic space that has for a long time pushed Dalit characters to the margins. Instead of following the old Savarna gaze that reduced Dalit characters to stereotypes the series allows a Jatav character to drive the story and shape its moral and political direction.
Remembering Ambedkar
One of the most important scenes appears at the beginning of the series. Jayprakash Jatav remembers Dr. B. R. Ambedkar while thinking about the making of the Indian Constitution. The moment is brief but meaningful. Mainstream Hindi cinema has rarely given space to Ambedkar or to Dalit perspectives. Here Ambedkar is not just a national icon. He becomes a source of inspiration for a Dalit protagonist. The scene links Jayprakash Jatav’s personal journey with the larger history of Dalit assertion. The series also shows how caste prejudice continues inside the police machinery. In one scene a politician questions Jayprakash Jatav’s ability to lead the investigation because he is a Chamar and by this immediate caste identity he become unworthy to be in a high profile investigation. This is significant because the caste system asbribed certain duty on basis of birth and in Jayprakash case his caste becomes the reason to doubt his competence. His qualifications and position as a police officer are ignored. The scene shows that caste still shapes ideas of merit and while deleviring a powerful meassge how Jaypraksh dealt the case it also suggests that ‘merit’ is often judged through caste (birth based) privilege rather than ability. In this way the series exposes how caste discrimination continues even within institutions that are expected to deliver justice.
Raakh and the Caste in Indian Cinema
The importance of Raakh goes beyond showing caste discrimination. The series is part of a recent shift in Indian visual culture where caste is becoming a central social and political issue. For a long time mainstream Hindi cinema either ignored caste or presented it through a reformist and paternalistic lens. Films such as Achhut Kanya (1936) Sujata (1959) Ankur (1974) Aakrosh (1980) and Bandit Queen (1994) dealt with caste and social injustice. Yet they rarely placed Dalit characters at the centre of the story or gave them political (assertive) agency.
The recent period shows a different trend. Filmmakers like Neeraj Ghaywan, Pa. Ranjith Mari Selvaraj and Nagraj Manjule have changed the way caste is represented on screen. Their films do more than include Dalit characters. They tell stories from Dalit experiences and perspectives. Films such as Masaan (2015) and Geeli Pucchi (2021) by Neeraj Ghaywan; Madras (2014) Kabali (2016) Kaala (2018) and Thangalaan (2024) by Pa. Ranjith; Pariyerum Perumal (2018) Karnan (2021) and Maamannan (2023) by Mari Selvaraj and Fandry (2013) Sairat (2016) and Jhund (2022) by Nagraj Manjule place caste,dignity, labour, memory and resistance at the heart of their narratives. In this context Raakh also becomes part of this wider change by giving a Dalit protagonist a central place in the story.
The importance of these filmmakers is not only their caste background. It also comes from the way their social experiences shape their films. Their work questions the Brahmanical view that has shaped Indian cinema for a long time. In this sense Dalit Bahujan filmmakers do more than increase representation. They also change who gets to tell stories and explain social reality. The issue is not only who appears on screen. It is also who has the power to shape the narrative.
Raakh should be seen within this larger shift. It gives its protagonist the name Jayprakash Jatav. It shows the caste discrimination he faces in the police system and from political leaders. It also begins with a reference to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. These moments bring caste into a genre that has remained usually ignored in Hindi cinema.
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Vikash Kumar is a PhD scholar at the Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
Sivaji Ayyayi r kiam. UT News. The creamy layer concept, which excludes economically advanced individuals from reservation benefits, currently applies only to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in India (typically those with family income above ₹8 lakh per year). It does not apply to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) reservations. Supreme Court Observations (August 2024) In a landmark 6:1 majority judgment in State of Punjab v. Davinder Singh (1 August 2024), a seven-judge Constitution Bench allowed states to sub-classify SC/ST groups to provide more targeted quotas to the most disadvantaged sub-groups. Several judges (including Justices B.R. Gavai, Vikram Nath, and others) observed that states should identify and exclude a "creamy layer" (socially/economically advanced sections) within SC/ST from reservation benefits, arguing this would ensure benefits reach the truly needy and achieve "real equality." They suggested criteria for SC/ST creamy ...
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