Human rights defender Mr Hazari Lal Jatolia was excommunicated by the caste council, Akhil Mewar Regar Samaj Mahasabha, in Rajasthan on 12 June 2010 as a result of his work protecting the rights of women. Hazari Lal Jatolia has worked actively with Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save the Childhood Foundation) amongst other human rights organisations. He is a long-standing social activist and his work includes the promotion of the rights of oppressed women, victims of domestic violence and rape in Rajasthan. He has initiated several campaigns for the rights of the most marginalised sections of society including Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes. Hazari Lal Jatolia also initiated the Rin Mukti Andolan (Debt Relief Movement).

The caste council, although not a legal entity, administers justice and resolves disputes and holds a powerful position within the Regar community. The excommunication has reportedly resulted from Hazari Lal Jatolia's work on the case of a female member of the Regar community who was raped by her father-in-law, as well as the cases of three other women who had already been condemned by the men's council as a result of complaints they had filed. According to the excommunication, Hazari Lal Jatolia cannot enter the community, nor is he permitted to speak to any member of the community.

Together with Hazari Lal Jatolia, eight other men were also excommunicated. They are: Bhanwar Lal Regar, Ramchandra Regar, Amba Lal Regar, Naru Lal Regar, Nand Lal Regar, Mohan Lal Regar, Gopi Lal Regar and Kalu Lal Regar, most of whom are fathers of female victims of violence.

Hazari Lal Jatolia has previously experienced threats and harassment as a result of his work with marginalised communities. In a high-profile case in 1984, when he led a dalit group into a Hindu temple where dalits and so-called lower castes were not allowed, he and the group were attacked by armed persons from another caste. Following this incident, the then President of India, himself a dalit, visited the temple with a group of dalits in order to break the caste barrier.

Front Line believes that the excommunication of Hazari Lal Jatolia is directly related to his peaceful and legitimate human rights activities, in particular his efforts to promote and protect the rights of women and young girls in Rajasthan. The excommunication of the human rights defender is a clear attempt by the caste council to prevent those members of the community whose rights have been violated from reporting the incidents and filing complaints. Front Line fears for the physical and psychological integrity of Hazari Lal Jatolia.

Front Line urges the authorities in India to:

1. Ensure that the caste council re-admit human rights defender Hazari Lal Jatolia into the community immediately and unconditionally;

2. Ensure that Hazari Lal Jatolia, as well as all human rights defenders in India, is free to carry out his legitimate human rights work without fear of restrictions or reprisals;

3. Publicly condemn any groups or councils who attempt to discredit the work of legitimate human rights defenders and publicly reaffirm the importance of this work;

3. Guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Hazari Lal Jatolia as well as that of those who work with him on women's rights.