| Vol 24 | July 1st - 15th, 2005 | No. 13 |
| Reports | |
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Supreme court upholds caste-based housing societies Bangalore: India's higher judiciary, which has consistently come in the way of social justice striking down caste-based reservations to Backward Castes, has sprung a surprise when it came to the question of houses to upper castes. Here is a Times of India (Bombay) report dated April 24, 2005: Bombay: How has Mumbai reacted to April 19 Supreme Court ruling which upheld the formation of exclusive cooperative housing societies where membership could be restricted to persons from the same profession, caste, sex or religion? Mumbai has traditional community enclaves, especially for Parsis, Catholics, Jains, Sindhis and Saraswat Gouds. To these ethnic ranks has been added a new criterion: being vegetarian. In Kandivli, only Dawoodi Bohras live in the Hooseini co-operating house society. Dadar has a Parsi Colony. In Bandra, the sprawling St. Sebastian and Salsette complexes are only for Roman Catholics, and the Hindu Bunts have sole rights to their place in Palekam Wadi. The SC order in fact reverses several high court judgments which struck down such discrimination. Constitution protects ethnic identity The Zorastrian Radih Society had lost its case against Pervin Jogina, who had passed on her allotted flat in Jogeshwari's Behrambaug to a non-Parsi. Similarly, the Talmakiwadi Society at Tardeo, which houses Goud Saraswats, had also lost a court case to keep outsiders away. Says advocate and solicitor N.A. Modi, "The Supreme Court ruling is of great significance. When any small group is legally helped to stay in close contact with each other, its qualities, values and traditions are fostered". The ruling is very much in line with constitutional provisions which seek to preserve the diversified web of Indian life". "It is welcome decision for a minuscule community", he says. Ramesh Prabhu of the Maharashtra Co-op Housing Societies says the ruling will increase the number of community-based housing societies. "It is a good trend when likely-minded people come together", he says. __________________________________________________________________________________ Shocking facts of cheated castes |
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