The Need for Social Boycott Laws in India
It is the aim of this paper to analyze social boycotts from multidimensional perspectives through the analysis of the psychological, physiological and economic impact that social boycotts have on one of the most vulnerable groups in India. In order to do this effectively, the Article sets forth the arguments for why there needs to be a separate national law to tackle the menace of social boycotts in India. It then analyses the Maharashtra Protection of People from Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2016 – the first ever successful legislation to ban Social Boycotts in the Country and the Lacunae in the Act that need to be addressed in the national Law. Finally, it analyses the Sardar Saydna Ther Saifuddin Saheb v The State of Bombay judgment in order to shed light on the possible constitutional challenges to the proposed National Social Boycotts Prevention Law and to suggest possible counters.
Cite as – Akhileshwari Reddy, ‘The Need for Social Boycott Laws in India’, 2019(1) GNLU Law & Soc. Rev. 63.
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About the Authors
Akhileshwari Reddy is a Senior Resident Fellow at Vidhi, Karnataka. Her work focuses on the protection of human rights and environment. At Vidhi she has worked on various projects including those on solid waste management, waste picker welfare, urban ground water management and human-wildlife conflict in India. She graduated with a B.A., L.LB (Hons.) degree from the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS, Kolkata) in 2016. In 2017, she completed her Masters in Human Rights Law at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) on the Marchant Foundation Scholarship and the LSE Master’s Award. Her articles on human rights issues in India have been published by various Journals. She also regularly contributes to the Deccan Herald, The Wire and Down to Earth. She is an avid reader and especially enjoys reading fantasy fiction.
