Jodhpur, Nov. 15 -- Several cases of social boycott and ostracism by caste panchayats in the state led to the Rajasthan high court on April 10 declaring the practice "unconstitutional" and issuing stringent directions to the government to curb it. Over six months later, a gap in implementation has now prompted a member of the high court-appointed commission to formally seek answers from the government. Cases point to a practice in which caste and community bodies allegedly impose punishments that affect the livelihoods, relationships and dignity of entire families. In 2021, Champa Devi's in-laws allegedly started demanding additional dowry within months of her marriage in November. In October 2023, she was allegedly assaulted and thrown out of her matrimonial home after the demands were not met. When her family tried to intervene, her in-laws allegedly demanded Rs.1 lakh and jewellery and assaulted her father and brother. In June 2024, a caste panchayat allegedly imposed a social boycott on Devi and her family after her father refused to put his thumb impression on blank papers. While for Peeru Lal, a resident of Bhilwara district, the ordeal began after his son married a woman from outside their caste. The family was allegedly boycotted by the panchayat, which also demanded Rs.50,000. Lal filed a complaint at Asind police station, but he said it did not result in an FIR. When he opposed the panchayat, he was allegedly assaulted. He reported the incident, but said his complaint was not acted upon. Despite the court's intervention, the state government's follow-up action in such cases has been sluggish, with several key measures either remaining unimplemented or not being publicly disclosed. "Even now, numerous cases of abuse by khap panchayats continue to emerge every month, which indicates a lack of effective action," said Shobha Prabhakar, a member of the high court-appointed panel and a leading figure in the Rajasthan Social Boycott Prevention Campaign. Against this backdrop, Prabhakar has formally approached the chief secretary, additional chief secretary (home), director general of police and the concerned cabinet ministers. In a representation, she raised questions about the implementation of the court's directions. "More than six months have passed since the judgment. We want to know whether district-level nodal officers and special cells have been constituted, whether a state-level monitoring office has been established and what action has been taken on the pending FIRs, including whether the investigations were completed within the 90-day period," Prabhakar said in her October 30 representation. She added that the campaign had also sought details of the policy and standard operating procedure, the report on broader patterns of social boycott submitted to the chief secretary, measures to implement the Supreme Court's Shakti Vahini directions, and steps taken towards a dedicated legislative framework. "If these measures have already been taken but have not been made public, we would be happy to be corrected. We have sought copies of the relevant orders, circulars and notifications so that the position is clear," she said. Prabhakar has asked the government to respond to the representation. In the absence of a response, the campaign says it may approach the high court and pursue other legal remedies. In March 2025, the Rajasthan high court constituted a commission in Bhaka Ram vs State of Rajasthan to examine social boycott and ostracism imposed by khap panchayats and self-styled community bodies. The commission visited several districts and interacted with victims and officials. On April 10, justice Farjand Ali, in Deepa Ram Meghwal vs State of Rajasthan and connected matters, declared social boycott unconstitutional. The court held that social boycott, "in whatever form, is in direct affront to the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India". It directed district-level nodal officers to receive complaints, a state-level mechanism to maintain consolidated data, and independent investigations into pending FIRs within 90 days. The home department was asked to formulate a comprehensive policy and standard operating procedure, while court underscored urgent need for legislation to address social boycott....