Rupa Sunar-Saraswati Pradhan controversy: What does the law say?

The news of the house owner Saraswati Pradhan not allowing a Dalit journalist Rupa Sunar to rent a flat because of her caste has made public outcry after she uploaded a video about it on the internet. Sunar also filed a case with Nepal Police as per the Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability (Offence and Punishment) Act, 2011 , but Pradhan was released on Wednesday, allegedly due to political pressure from a sitting minister .

The case got quick media attention attracting everyone’s concern. The issues of caste-based discrimination and untouchability are deeply rooted in our society. Although the laws have already banned the practice of discrimination and untouchability, incidents amounting to this office can be traced in various parts of our life. The murder of six Dalit young men in Rukum West in May 2020 and the rape and murder of a Dalit girl in the same month are some extreme reflections of society’s look towards Dalits. Notably, there are subtle practices of discrimination and untouchability based on caste.