SC REJECTS PLEA AGAINST GOVT’S ‘DALIT ADVISORY’

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition challenging a government notification that “advised” the media to refrain from using the word “Dalit” while referring to the members of Scheduled Castes. A bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, however, asked the petitioners – two Dalit activists – to approach the appropriate government authority with their grievance. They were given liberty to come back to the court in case the government does not respond. The petitioners termed the circular dated August 7, 2018 as arbitrary, irrational, unreasonable, discriminatory and contrary to the Constitution of India. A government circular was issued by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting subsequent to June 6, 2018 order of the Bombay HC in against the use of word dalit.