New Delhi, 04 May (H.S.): The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of recent instances in Odisha where the High Court and lower courts imposed conditions requiring individuals from Dalit and Adivasi communities to clean police stations for two months as a prerequisite for bail. A bench presided over by Chief Justice Suryakant has expressed strong displeasure over this issue.

The Supreme Court has ordered the quashing of these conditions, deeming them demeaning and violative of human dignity. The court stated that it is deeply disappointed and saddened that such conditions are extremely cruel, repulsive, and injurious to human dignity. It observed that these stipulations create an impression that the judiciary is functioning on caste lines, as they have been imposed exclusively on marginalized sections of society.

The Supreme Court remarked that in 2026, it does not expect such conduct from the judiciary. It has issued a stern warning to courts across the country against imposing such conditions henceforth. Most of these cases were related to anti-mining protests.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar