Overview
- The House approved the Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill unanimously on Dec 18 after its Dec 12 introduction by Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa.
- The legislation defines a social boycott as any gesture or act, oral or written, that results in social discrimination within a community, detailing exclusions across work, services, business, and social or religious life.
- Offences carry up to three years’ imprisonment or fines up to ₹1 lakh, are cognizable and bailable, and cover those who impose, enforce, aid, abet, or vote for a boycott.
- The act outlaws assemblies convened to plan or deliberate on imposing a boycott and proposes appointing a social boycott prohibition officer to support detection and court proceedings.
- Courts must hear the victim on sentencing after any conviction, and the bill drew cross-party backing from BJP and JD(S) legislators; if notified, Karnataka would be the second state after Maharashtra with such a law.