The Broadcasting Ministry of India issued a new order to television channels, stating that the media “may refrain from using the nomenclature Dalit in compliance with the Bombay High Court order”. The order was dispatched in a letter to private channels on 7th August.
Political leaders and activists have criticized the move, saying that a simple ban does not improve the status of a community. Members of the aforementioned community are also worried that the ban can affect reporting on the oppression faced by the Scheduled Castes.
“Just because the word is not used, does not mean the community is not oppressed… the media should definitely continue using the word,” said lawmaker Udit Raj.
Arvind Kumar, Centre for Dalit and Minority Studies said that it was “not just a word”. “It a whole semantics to it… any word – black, Dalit, OBC, shudra, they all carry some meaning, it also connotes some identity.”
Critics have expressed their concern of ‘ambiguity’ in the court’s order. A line of the order said the government can issue “suitable directions” to the media to refrain from using the word. But another line said the ministry should “consider the question of issuing such direction to the media”.
Earlier, the Madhya Pradesh High Court had, in response to a petition said that there was “no doubt” that the word should not be used by the government, since it had not been mentioned in the Indian Constitution.
The Ministry of Social Justice issued a circular in March in referral to the order and stated that official communication from the government of India and state governments should hereby use the term “Scheduled Caste” or its translation.
The circular was referred by the Bombay High Court and suggestions were given to issue ‘suitable directions’ to the press council and the media to this effect within 6 weeks. This led to the August 7 order.
