Date: 2026-06-15Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported social ostracisation of a woman in the Sundargarh district of Odisha and alleged denial of villagers' support for her last rites
**Summary of NHRC Action Regarding Social Ostracisation in Odisha**
**Overview**
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, has taken *suo motu* cognizance of a media report detailing the long-term social boycott and subsequent denial of funeral support for an elderly woman in Mahuldiha Village, Sundargarh district, Odisha.
**Case Details**
* **Incident Location:** Mahuldiha Village, Sundargarh District, Odisha.
* **Duration of Ostracisation:** 12 years.
* **Cause of Boycott:** The victim’s family was subjected to social ostracisation by villagers for being unable to pay a penalty. This penalty was originally imposed after the woman's daughter briefly left home with a man from a different caste.
* **Recent Developments:** Following the death of the elderly woman, villagers reportedly refused to assist her daughter with the last rites. The funeral was eventually conducted through the intervention of the local administration and associated NGOs.
**Commission Observations and Actions**
The NHRC observed that the reports, if verified, indicate a significant violation of human rights. Consequently, the Commission has initiated the following:
* **Formal Notice:** Issued to the Chief Secretary of Odisha.
* **Requirement:** A detailed report on the matter must be submitted to the Commission within **two weeks**.
**Document Metadata**
* **Release Date:** June 15, 2026, 2:30 PM.
* **Original Media Report Date:** June 11, 2026.
* **Source:** Press Information Bureau (PIB) Delhi.
* **Release ID:** 2272927.
* **Visitor Count at Time of Release:** 619.
Key Entities Referenced
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC): The statutory body that took suo motu cognizance of human rights violations involving social ostracisation and issued a notice for an investigation report.
Mahuldiha Village, Sundargarh, Odisha: The central location of the reported incident where a family was subjected to a 12-year social boycott and denied support for funeral rites.
Odisha Chief Secretary: The primary administrative authority directed by the NHRC to submit a detailed report regarding the social boycott and the administration's response.
National Human Rights Commission
NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the
reported social ostracisation of a woman in the
Sundargarh district of Odisha and alleged denial
of villagers' support for her last rites
Reportedly, the victim and her family suffered 12 years of
social boycott by the villagers for being unable to pay a
penalty imposed
The Commission issues a notice to the Odisha Chief
Secretary, calling for a detailed report on the matter within
two weeks
प्रव तथ: 15 JUN 2026 2:30PM by PIB Delhi
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report
that an elderly woman passed away suffering 12 years of social boycott and even then, the villagers did
not extend support to her daughter in conducting her last rites in Mahuldiha Village, Sundargarh district,
Odisha. Eventually, her last rites were performed when the administration stepped in and some local
NGOs were associated.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise issues of violation of
human rights. Therefore, it has issued a notice to the Odisha Chief Secretary, calling for a detailed report
on the matter within two weeks.
According to the media report, carried on 11th June 2026, the woman’s family was subjected to social
ostracisation for being unable to pay a penalty imposed by the villagers after her daughter had briefly left
home with a man from another caste.
***
NSK
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