Untouchability and the idea of ‘purity’
Indian law defines untouchability as practices that enforce social exclusion based on caste. The Supreme Court has linked the concept to notions of purity and pollution, shaping jurisprudence on discrimination. A Rajasthan High Court decision clarified that purification rituals do not erase untouchability. The article examines criteria to assess whether a Haldwani ceremony constitutes an untouchable act.