Taking a serious view of caste discrimination reported in Thalaivankottai in Tenkasi district where persons belonging to Scheduled Caste had to wait to take their share of water from the public tap till the water needs of the other communities were fulfilled, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court directed Tenkasi Collector to take appropriate steps and ensure that such discrimination does not take place.

Justice R.N. Manjula directed Tenkasi Collector to take steps to provide sufficient number of water tap connections with sufficient water supply in all the streets by making it clear that the connections were for everyone’s use, irrespective of the community and no one should be allowed to take excess water depriving others or claim ownership that a particular tap belongs to one particular community.

The court observed that natural resources like water are common to all. It was surprising and pathetic to note in this scientific age, that some communities need to compete with other communities and stand second in order to get their share of the resources. Is not the human race one community ?, the court asked.

Though legislations have been brought to protect the vulnerable sections from the oppressive lot who think they are superior and privileged, things at the grass root level still remain the same. It may not be easier to remove class or caste mentality in the minds of certain individuals. But, people in authority cannot be mute spectators. Being so, would amount to contributing or subscribing to these meanness of mind, the court observed.

What is needed is some practical solution and noiseless action. Being aware and sensitive to these realities and doing things which can be done in the best of the powers vested in the authorities is the need of the hour, the court observed.

The court took into account the submission made by a 65-year-old woman, the complainant, who said the days had not changed and they are still facing oppression at the hands of other communities even in the matter of sharing of the common resources like water. Water is the elixir of life and no one can live without water. The entitlement to get uncontaminated good water is a visage of the right to life and hence it is a fundamental right. No individual should be allowed to toil their whole life to fetch a pail of water, the court observed.