Now Khap Panchayat In UP's Muzaffarnagar Bans Men From Wearing Shorts, Says It Is Distasteful
Khap Panchayats which have often made headlines for banning jeans, short dress and mobile phones for girls in the villages, are in the news once again.
But this time the dicta is for men - an influential Khap Panchayat in UP's Muzaffarnagar has banned men from wearing half pants in public.
¡°Elders have decided to not allow men going about marketplaces and daily public life in half pants as it is distasteful,¡± Naresh Tikait, Khap panchayat leader, Muzaffarnagar said.
He however added that "We can't call it an order, but it is a piece of advice. Only imposing such restrictions on girls is no solution."
The decision was taken at a panchayat of several prominent Khaps in Sisoli village on Thursday, based on what they said was several complaints from girls.
While the Khap said it is not an order, it also stated that if someone is spotted in the shorts, his name and address will be noted and action will be taken against him.
Incidentally, just a few days ago Muzaffarnagar had made news after several homes in the district, known for its strong patriarchal system, put up nameplates with their daughters' names written on them, as a mark of respect to the girl child.
The role of Khap Panchayats, which often ends up becoming a parallel judicial system and Kangaroo courts has always been controversial.
Despite the Supreme Court, in 2017, declaring the Khap Panchayats as "illegal," they continue to wield considerable influence over society wherever Jats are the dominant caste, and the institution has inv?ited opprobrium for imposing sanctions defending caste orthodoxy from social change.
Some of their most controversial orders include the ban on marriages between members of the same community and ostracisation and honour killing of those violating the edicts.
The apex court had earlier in january termed "absolutely illegal" any attack by khap panchayats or associations against an adult man and woman opting for inter- caste marriage.
There have also been cases where Khaps have ordered rape of women as 'punishment' for the mistakes committed by men in their family.
A Khap Panchayat in Haryana's Jind district had once blamed consumption of chowmein behind the growing incidents of rapes in the state saying it leads to hormonal imbalance.
