Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
Power to remove difficulties STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS Act No 18 of 2026.- It has been observed that the unconstitutional practices such as boycotts, imposition of various punishments by extra judicial bodies such as caste or community panchayats etc., are still in practice in various communities in the State, resulting in great harassment to individuals or groups in leading their lives with dignity. This has adverse effects on the social life of the community and has given rise to ill feelings and disharmony in the society. It is therefore necessary to eradicate these evil and unconstitutional practices from the society. The existing laws are found to be inadequate in dealing with such practices. The Government therefore considers it expedient to enact a legislation for the said purpose. It is accordingly proposed to prevent the evil practices of imposition of social boycott, social discrimination and social disabilities at various levels by caste or community panchayaths or by its members and punishment for such social boycott. It is also proposed to appoint the social boycott prohibition officer. Hence, the Bill. [L.A. Bill No. 82 of 2025, File No. SAMVYASHAE 95 SHASANA 2025] [Entries 5 and 23 of List III of the Seventh Schedule and Articles 14, 16 and 21 of the Constitution of India] [Published in Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary No.58 in part-IVA dated:12.01.2026] KARNATAKA ACT NO. 18 OF 2026 (First Published in the Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary on the 12th Day of January 2026) THE KARNATAKA SOCIAL BOYCOTT (PREVENTION, PROHIBITION AND REDRESSAL) ACT, 2025 (Received the assent of the Governor on the 09th day of January, 2026) An Act to provide for the prohibition of social boycott of a person or group of persons including their family members and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto; Whereas promoting amongst the citizens fraternity, assuring the dignity of individual is enshrined as one of the goal in the Preamble to the Constitution of India; And whereas the social boycott of any person or a group of persons is violation of the fundamental rights enshrined in part-III of the Constitution; And whereas it has been observed that the inhuman practice of social boycott boycott of a person or group of persons including their family members still persists in some parts of the State; And whereas it appears that the existing laws have been proved to be not effective in total elimination of the evil of social boycott of a person or group of persons including their family members; And whereas it is necessary to prohibit social boycott as a matter of social reform in the interest of public welfare; And whereas with a view to ensure that the people in the State live in harmony with their human rights, it is expedient to provide for the prohibition of social boycott of a person or group of persons including their family members, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto; Be it enacted by the Karnataka Legislature in the Seventy sixth year of the Republic of India as follows:-