2 Dalit men fall at upper-caste men's feet for burial permission in Tamil Nadu

Two Dalit men in Erode were allegedly forced to fall at dominant caste men's feet to bury an elderly relative at a common ground. The state SC/ST commission has called it a human rights violation and sought action against those involved and officials present.

In Short

• Chenni, 80, was to be buried at Perumpalli's common burial ground
• Dominant caste residents allegedly objected, saying Dalits could not use it
• Officials present allegedly failed to stop the humiliation or protect burial

In a shocking instance of caste-based humiliation in Tamil Nadu's Erode district, two Dalit men reportedly fell at the feet of dominant caste men to seek permission to bury an 80-year-old relative at a common burial ground, as police and revenue officials watched without intervening.

The incident took place on October 5, when Chenni, an 80-year-old man who died of old age, was to be buried at the common burial ground in Perumpalli village in Erode district.

Members of a dominant caste community allegedly opposed the burial, claiming that people belonging to the Dalit community could not be buried at the common burial ground. Chenni's family maintained that the burial ground was meant for everyone and that members of all communities had the right to use it.

During the ensuing dispute, members of the dominant caste community reportedly demanded that the Dalit family members fall at their feet if they wanted to bury the deceased there. Two members of the Dalit community subsequently fell at the feet of men from the other community and worshipped them, according to the Tamil Nadu State Commission for Adi Dravidar and Scheduled Tribes.

The incident took place in the presence of police and revenue officials, who were accused of remaining passive spectators instead of intervening to prevent the humiliation and ensure that the family could carry out the burial.

SC/ST COMMISSION SEEKS ACTION AGAINST OFFICIALS

Taking cognisance of the incident following media reports, video footage and complaints, the Tamil Nadu State Commission for Adi Dravidar and Scheduled Tribes issued a notice to the Erode District Collector and the SP, seeking action against those involved and a detailed report on the incident.

In its notice issued under Section 9 of the Tamil Nadu State Commission for Adi Dravidar and Scheduled Tribes Act, 2021, the commission described the incident as a human rights violation. It said the police and revenue officials present at the spot should have intervened when members of the Dalit community were made to fall at the feet of people from the other community.

The commission also flagged the alleged failure of the police to provide the necessary protection for the burial at the common ground. It noted that preventing the burial of Chenni's body was illegal and referred to Article 21 of the Constitution and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The notice directed the Erode District Collector and the SP to take action under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against the members of the other community involved in the incident and submit a detailed report by October 30, 2026.

The authorities were also asked to report on the disciplinary action taken against the police and revenue officials who allegedly failed to take precautionary measures or intervene during the incident.

The commission's notice followed video footage published by newspapers and circulated on television and social media on October 9, as well as complaints submitted by political and social organisation representatives.

ERODE COLLECTOR SAYS INQUIRY UNDERWAY

Speaking to India Today, Erode District Collector S Kandasamy said an inquiry was underway to establish the full details of the incident.

- Ends