Odisha Human Rights Commission takes it upon itself to defend victims in civil court

In a rare move to protect human rights of people subjected to hereditary bondage, Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has decided to become an intervener in a civil court case.

In a rare move to protect human rights of people subjected to hereditary bondage, Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has decided to become an intervener in a civil court case.

The dispute pertained to revolt by two barber community families in Odisha’s Puri district where they refused cut hair of fellow villagers and clean food leftovers in community feasts in lieu of annual compensation of 15 kg of rice, known as ‘Bartan System’.

For ages, families of Purnachandra Barik and Kelu Charan Barik had been residing on a piece of land recorded in the name of deity and other villagers in Manpur village under Brahmagiri police station of Puri district. They were rendering service as hair cutters for possession of the land.

In 2017, the two families were released from bondage as per Bonded Labour Abolition Act 1976. Subsequently, they informed the upper caste villagers that they would no more continue the undignified hereditary service.

Angered by the ‘defiance’, villagers had driven the two families out from the house and were attacked in 2020.

Baghambar Pattnaik, a renowned human right activist, brought the matter up before commission which got the case inquired by its own investigation wing. As the investigation found veracity in the complaints of two barber families, the OHRC directed State authorities to restore victims’ possession over houses and ensure their proper rehabilitation.

As many as 16 villagers were arrested for their involvement in atrocities against the two families. Upon their release from jail on bail, four villagers had filed a case before Civil Judge (senior division), Puri seeking eviction of the two families from the land. The case was passionately fought in court of District Judge, Puri and then in Orissa High Court.