Sivaganga: A quarrel between two 12-year-old girls in Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga district spiraled into a legal case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, after the dispute escalated into a caste-based confrontation between their families. The case has sparked concerns among child rights activists and authorities, who stress the need for sensitive handling of the issue.
According to sources, the incident occurred on April 14 at a tuition centre, where the two girls — one from an SC community and the other from a caste Hindu family — got into a verbal dispute. When the caste Hindu girl’s parents learned about the quarrel, they reportedly scolded the SC girl. The situation intensified when the SC girl’s parents confronted them, leading to a heated argument during which casteist slurs were allegedly used by the caste Hindu family.
Following this, the SC girl’s mother filed a complaint at the SIPCOT police station, resulting in a case being registered under the SC/ST Act against the caste Hindu girl and her parents. A senior police official later clarified that while the child was initially booked, her name would soon be removed from the FIR, acknowledging the need to protect children from unnecessary legal trauma.
Child rights activist A Devaneyan emphasized the importance of a cautious approach, stating, “Both children require immediate counselling. At this age, they should not be exposed to caste or religious hatred. This is clearly a conflict between adults that has unfortunately involved children. The district administration must step in to ensure the wellbeing of both.”
