Punjab SC Commission issues directions to avoid use of word ‘Dalit’

Taking note of the use of the word ‘Dalit’ by the media for new Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, the state’s Scheduled Castes Commission on Tuesday ordered not to use the word for members of the Scheduled Caste community. Commission chairperson Tejinder Kaur said that the name ‘Dalit’ is not mentioned in the Constitution or any law.

In addition, India’s Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has already given instructions to the Chief Secretaries of all states and union territories in this regard, it said in a statement.

He also referred to a 2018 order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court directing the central and state governments and their office bearers to refrain from using the word ‘Dalit’ for members of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities.

He said the High Court had sought a ban on the use of the word as it is nowhere in the Constitution or any law. Kaur said that following the High Court’s direction, the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment had also directed all states and union territories to use the word “Scheduled Caste” instead of “Dalit” for Scheduled Caste people.