Madras High Court Condemns Caste Discrimination in Water Access, Mandates Statewide Action

The Madras High Court has intervened to address caste-based discrimination in access to water, a fundamental necessity and a persistent symbol of social inequality. Following a case from Tamil Nadu’s Tenkasi district, the court issued a directive for statewide implementation to ensure equitable access to water resources. The ruling came in response to a bail petition filed by a 65-year-old woman from the Scheduled Caste community, who highlighted instances of denied water access in Thalaivankottai village. The court deemed this denial “pathetic and surprising” and emphasized that clean drinking water is a fundamental right. The court had previously instructed the Tenkasi District Collector to prevent the discriminatory practice of forcing SC residents to wait for water. The court acknowledged the installation of new public taps and the formation of a monitoring committee, while Justice Manjula stressed the importance of proactive measures and the often-unreported nature of caste-based discrimination. Officials across Tamil Nadu are now required to implement the practices followed by Thalaivankottai village and urban areas within three weeks, with a report due on August 21.