Mahal panel to be prosecuted for caste discrimination and ostracism

Puthoorppally Muslim Jamaat at Changanassery allegedly discriminated against Ossan community, who are traditionally engaged as barbers. Twelve members move Waqf Board saying they are not allowed to attend committee meetings

The mahal committee of a Muslim Jamaat in Kottayam district is facing criminal proceedings on charges of alleged caste discrimination and ostracism, the first such instance in Kerala.

The Kerala State Waqf Board has decided to initiate legal action against the Puthoorppally Muslim Jamaat of Changanassery for discriminating against and socially ostracising members of the Ossan community, traditionally engaged as barbers. The board says the mahal committee’s decision goes against the tenets of Islam and provision of the Constitution.

The case against the mahal committee members is that they prevented the first petitioner Aneesh Sali and others from taking part in general body meetings of the committee stating that they belonged to the Ossan community. Twelve members of the community moved the board against the discrimination.

Mr. Sali had taken part in the general body meeting of the committee on July 2, 2023 and marked his attendance in a register. However, the mahal committee leadership told him that he had no right to take part in the meeting as his predecessors belonged to a barber family. The committee quoted its bylaw to prevent him from attending future meetings as well.

The petitioner approached the Waqf Board to initiate criminal proceedings against the mahal committee as it refused to comply with the earlier directions of the board to end the discrimination.

Prison term and fine

The board, which met last week in Kochi, decided to initiate criminal proceedings against the mahal committee under Section 61 of the Waqf Act, said M.K. Sakeer, board chairman. The convicts can get imprisonment up to six months and a maximum fine of ₹10,000.

The board issued a general circular to mahal committees against excommunication, denial of marriage registration, burial and madrasa education, and cancellation or denial of mahal membership.