Eighty years after India's independence, the continued discrimination against Dalits remains a harsh reality, the Madras High Court observed on Thursday while hearing a petition urging the Tamil Nadu government to ensure temple entry rights for the community in villages across Pudukkottai and Karur districts.

The plea also demanded the identification of individuals involved in the May 5 arson attack on Dalit homes and vehicles in Pudukkottai, a full assessment of the damage, and appropriate financial compensation for the victims.

The Madurai Bench of the court issued strong remarks against the District Collectors and Superintendents of Police of Pudukkottai and Karur, stressing that their responsibilities extend beyond "white collar jobs." The court expressed concern that action is often taken only when a formal complaint is lodged, rather than proactively addressing systemic caste-based violence.

“In some villages, Dalits cannot even wear a shirt or walk freely on the streets,” the court noted. “Had the Collector visited the area in disguise, the ground reality would have been exposed.” The judges also questioned why senior officials failed to visit the affected areas and directed the submission of CCTV footage from May 4 to May 7 from the concerned village.

Petitioners further alleged that police failed to register cases against the ringleaders of the mob involved in the attack. The state government claimed it had received no formal complaints, despite circulating videos showing the violence in Vadakadu village, where homes were vandalized and set ablaze. A police constable was reportedly injured during the incident.

Over a dozen individuals from dominant castes and five Dalits have been booked under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and other charges, including carrying weapons. Several arrests have been made, and nearly two dozen people were hospitalized following the violence.

The unrest reportedly began during a temple festival at the government-run Mariamman Temple, where Dalits were allegedly barred from entering. Tensions escalated after members of the Dalit community carried ceremonial umbrellas, triggering a verbal confrontation that spiraled into mob violence. One house, two cars, and six two-wheelers were set on fire.

In Karur district, Dalits reported being routinely denied access to temples and alleged that temple chariots deliberately avoid passing by their homes. They also highlighted the continued practice of untouchability, citing the 'two tumbler system' still prevalent in some tea shops, where Dalits are served in separate cups.

The Tamil Nadu government later informed the court that Dalits had been allowed into the temple following a peace committee meeting and claimed that a land dispute, rather than caste tensions, was at the heart of the conflict.

Nevertheless, conflicting narratives have emerged from both sides regarding how the violence began. What remains undisputed, however, is the continued marginalization and vulnerability of Dalits in parts of rural Tamil Nadu—a situation the court described as “painful to see.”