Chakma Committees Draw Ire from Tripura High Court
“On Tuesday, the Tripura High Court issued a stern rebuke to specific Chakma community factions accused of advocating a social boycott against a Chakma man (the petitioner) and his family members following their conversion to Christianity in the case of Tarun Chakma v State.”
Justice Arindam Lodhi underscored that India, being a secular nation, upholds the fundamental right of every citizen to freely propagate, practice, and choose their religion.
Chakma Committees Background
“The individuals within the Chakma committees involved in the boycott are in violation of the Indian Constitution, as they are attempting to encroach upon the fundamental rights of Indian citizens. The Chakma Committees members should bear in mind that India, being a secular nation, guarantees every individual the fundamental right to preach, practice, and select their own religion. No one can infringe upon such a right of a citizen,” declared the Court.
The Court went on to instruct the State authorities to undertake requisite actions to put an end to the religious persecution experienced by the petitioner and his family.
The authorities were explicitly directed not to hesitate in apprehending individuals found in breach of the Indian Constitution.
“The respondents are instructed to take firm measures against those Samajpatis or self-proclaimed leaders and Chakma Committees members engaging in such unconstitutional actions. The State Administration will not shy away from apprehending any individuals from any community involved in unlawful activities and violating the provisions of the Indian Constitution,” stated the order.
The petitioner in the Court had levied specific allegations against two committees, namely the Uttar Andharcharra Chakma Social Justice Committee and Kanchancherra Chakma Social Custom Panchayat, along with their respective members.
The petitioner asserted that Chakma Committees had ostracized him and his family from the community due to his conversion to Christianity in the year 2022.
The petitioner claimed that he was stigmatized as antisocial and expelled from the Chakma Committees. Moreover, he received warnings against socializing with other Chakma members, and the community was instructed to distance themselves from him and his family.
Analysis of Chakma Committees
Additionally, the committees purportedly cautioned community members not to patronize the auto-rickshaw services of the petitioner, who was employed as an auto-rickshaw driver.
The counsel representing the petitioner contended that Chakma committees were involved in illicit activities that ran counter to the tenets of the Constitution of India and the Chakma Customary Laws Code of 1997, which are generally followed by members of the Chakma community in Tripura.
Chakma Committees Decision
Considering the arguments presented, the Court instructed the committee members to provide an account of their purported behavior. The case is scheduled for the next hearing on November 29, 2023, during which the State authorities are anticipated to furnish a report on the actions taken.
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