Why in news?

A "shuddhikaran" (purification) ritual performed at Haldwani's Ramlila ground — two days after senior political leader addressed a rally there — has triggered a controversy over whether the act amounts to "untouchability" under law.

The episode raises a deeper constitutional question: does law recognise untouchability even when there is no denial of entry, but a "purification" of a place after a Dalit person has used it?

What’s in Today’s Article?

• What the Constitution and Law Prohibit?
• Supreme Court's Interpretation: Sukanya Shantha v Union of India (2024)
• Rajasthan High Court Precedent: Surya Narayan Choudhary v State of Rajasthan (1988)
• What Would Establish Untouchability in the Haldwani Case?

What the Constitution and Law Prohibit?

• Article 17 declares "untouchability" abolished, forbids its practice "in any form," and makes enforcement of any disability arising from it a punishable offence. The Constitution does not define "untouchability".
• The Supreme Court has held Article 17 is enforceable against non-State actors as well.
• Parliament operationalised Article 17 through the Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955, renamed the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 after a 1976 amendment.
• The Act penalises preaching and practice of untouchability, and enforcement of disabilities — covering denial of temple entry, social disabilities and discrimination in public facilities.
• Section 7(1)(d) specifically punishes insulting a Scheduled Caste member "on the ground of untouchability" — but the insult must be connected to untouchability, not merely humiliating.

Supreme Court's Interpretation: Sukanya Shantha v Union of India (2024)

• Case involved striking down caste-discriminatory provisions in prison manuals.
• Court linked untouchability to the caste system's notions of "purity and pollution", used historically to reinforce caste hierarchy.
• It held that the absence of a constitutional definition does not restrict Article 17's scope, since discrimination manifests through "manifold complexities" of social life.
• Key principle laid down was: "There cannot be any stigma attached to the existence, touch or presence of any person."
• This extends Article 17 beyond physical exclusion to discriminatory treatment based on touch or presence.

Rajasthan High Court Precedent: Surya Narayan Choudhary v State of Rajasthan (1988)

• The case was concerned with discrimination against Dalit devotees at the Shrinathji temple, Nathdwara.
• Dalits were permitted temple entry only after a purification process.
• High Court held this was an additional discriminatory condition not applied to other devotees.
• It directed the practice be discontinued, holding it violative of Articles 14, 15 and 17.
• Key distinction from Haldwani: At Nathdwara, purification was a precondition for entry; at Haldwani, the ritual occurred after use of the venue, and its cause is disputed.
• Hence, this precedent doesn't directly decide the Haldwani case, but establishes that caste-specific ritual purification as a condition of access violates Article 17.

Distinguishing from the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989

• Article 17/PCR (Protection of Civil Rights Act) Act must be distinguished from the separate criminal regime under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
• Section 3(1)(r): Punishes intentional insult/intimidation of an SC/ST member with intent to humiliate, in a place within public view, by a non-SC/ST person.
• Hitesh Verma v State of Uttarakhand (2020): Not every insult to an SC/ST person attracts this provision — the insult must be connected to the person's caste identity.
• Gunjan @ Girija Kumari v State (NCT of Delhi) (2026): Reiterated that "public view" is an essential ingredient for the offence.

What Would Establish Untouchability in the Haldwani Case?

• The determining factor is evidence of a caste-based connection — whether the venue was seen as needing cleansing because of caste-based notions of pollution attached to Kharge's touch or presence.
• If such a connection exists, the reasoning in Sukanya Shantha and Surya Narayan Choudhary becomes directly relevant.
• If the ritual was for reasons unconnected to caste, mere timing after the rally does not by itself establish untouchability.
• The word "shuddhikaran" alone cannot answer this question — the legal test is the underlying connection to caste-based pollution, not the label or timing of the act.

Conclusion

Article 17's abolition of untouchability extends beyond physical exclusion to caste-based notions of purity and pollution attached to a person's touch or presence, as clarified in Sukanya Shantha.

Whether a specific act — such as the Haldwani ritual — constitutes untouchability ultimately turns on demonstrable caste-based intent, not on ritual terminology or coincidental timing.

About AstroRad:

• It is a wearable, radiation-shielding vest designed for space travel by the Israeli company named StemRad, with support from the Israel Space Agency and Lockheed Martin.
• It protects astronauts' vital organs from dangerous space radiation beyond low-Earth orbit (LEO).
• It reduces Radiation Exposure Induced Death (REID) while eliminating the possibility of Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS) due to solar particle events.
• Features:
  • The AstroRad uses a proprietary smart shielding design to selectively protect those organs and tissues which are most sensitive to radiation in terms of REID probability.
  • This approach provides the greatest biological impact of protection with the least amount of mass.
  • Tissue-weighting factors are assigned to organs and tissues in the body to reflect the variance in radiation sensitivity, with organs such as the lungs, bone marrow, colon, stomach, breasts, and ovaries being among the most sensitive.
  • Selective protection of these organs, and tissue-resident stem cell concentrations within them was accomplished by designing variable shielding thickness to complement the body’s own shielding.
  • The shielding in the AstroRad comprises a polymer with a high abundance of hydrogen, which is advantageous for shielding against space radiation because it minimizes the generation of secondary radiation.
  • Individual solid shielding elements are organized into a scale-like architecture to allow for uninhibited, comfortable movement of the astronauts while wearing the AstroRad.

About Ghepan Lake:

• Ghepang Ghat glacial lake, known locally as Ghepan Lake, is a high-altitude glacial lake located in the Lahaul region of Himachal Pradesh.
• It is situated at an altitude of 4,070 meters.
• Named after Ghepan, the protector deity of Lahaul, the lake has deep ties to local culture and faith.
• The lake is known for its enchanting turquoise blue waters and glacial surroundings.
• A total of three hanging glaciers feed Ghepan Lake. It is unusual to see this kind of setting of glaciers feeding alpine lakes at this height, as it happens deep in the Himalayas, above 15,000 feet.
• The lake is a popular but challenging trekking destination, with the trek generally beginning from Sissu in the Lahaul Valley.
• Over the past three decades, rapid glacier melt has expanded the lake at an alarming pace, turning it into a serious threat for communities living downstream.
  • A sudden collapse could release a huge volume of water, rocks, and debris, a type of disaster known as a glacial lake outburst flood.
  • The widening of this lake is not an isolated event; it reflects the wider impacts of climate change in the Western Himalaya.

About Rotenone:

• It is a naturally occurring compound derived from the roots of tropical plants in the genus Derris, Lonchocarpus, or Tephrosia.
• It is commonly used as an insecticide and a pesticide.
• It has been used for decades in fisheries management to remove unwanted fish from lakes and streams.
• When applied at carefully calculated concentrations, it blocks oxygen uptake in fish gills, killing fish while leaving most other aquatic organisms unaffected.
• The chemical breaks down relatively quickly in sunlight and warm water.
• Currently, rotenone is commercially available as either a wettable powder or liquid.

Key Facts about Northern Pike: 

• It is a freshwater predatory fish belonging to the pike family (Esocidae).
• Scientific Name: Esox lucius
• Habitat and Distribution:
  • They are native in all of the circumpolar regions.
  • They can be found through much of the northern reaches of the USA, parts of Alaska, Canada, Europe, and Asia in both rivers and lakes as well as the brackish waters of the Baltic Sea.
  • Unfortunately this hearty fish species is often found out of its northern native range, where they can become a nuisance because they devour other native fish such as trout, perch, and bass.
• Features:
  • Their elongated slender bodies help them hide in weeds and among logs and rocks to ambush prey half their size.
  • They have a long head and flattened snout. Their mouths are enormous, with a one-way road of teeth.
  • These aggressive fish are striking in appearance, usually brownish green on top and sides covered with whitish bar-like spots.
  • The fins are dashed with red and brown streaks and darker dots, and the belly is cream-colored and white.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern

About Attunli Hydroelectric Project:

• It is a 680 MW run-of-river hydropower project in the Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• The project envisages an 85-metre concrete gravity dam across the Tangon (Talo) river, along with a 7.955 km head race tunnel, a 93-metre surge shaft, and twin pressure shafts.
• The underground powerhouse will be equipped with four 170 MW Francis turbines, while a tailrace tunnel will discharge water back into the river.
• It is expected to generate around 2,728 million units annually.
• The project was initially conceived by Attunli Hydro Electric Power Company Limited, a joint venture of Jindal Power and the Hydro Power Development Corporation of Arunachal Pradesh, before being allotted to Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN).
  • SJVN is a collaborative venture between the government of India and the state government of Himachal Pradesh.

About Liocheles gracilipalpus:

• It is a new species of scorpion belonging to the Hormuridae family.
• It was discovered from the Shivalik Hills of the Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir at an elevation of 1,655 metres above sea level.
• The name Liocheles gracilipalpus refers directly to its distinctive anatomy, with ‘’gracilis’’ meaning ‘’slender’’ and palpus referring to the pedipalp.
• It had unusually long and slender pedipalps — the pincer-like appendages characteristic of scorpions.
• It is relatively large for its genus, measuring between 34.8 and 43.2 mm in total length.
• Its body ranges from greyish brown to dark brown, while the legs and tail are lighter in colour.
• The researchers also observed marked sexual dimorphism, with differences between males and females particularly evident in the structure of the pedipalps.
• It was found beneath flat rocks near a man-made wall at the type locality.
• The species appeared to be relatively abundant there and was recorded across an elevation range extending from 1,655 metres down to Reasi town, located at around 600 metres.
• Interestingly, the scorpion was not restricted to undisturbed natural habitats. Researchers observed individuals in human-inhabited areas, including wood-storage sheds.
• Before the latest finding, L. australasiae, L. nigripes and L. schalleri were among the species of the genus recorded from India.

About Tetragonula nagalandensis:

• It is a species of stingless honey bee discovered in Nagaland.
• The name nagalandensis was chosen as a tribute to the state of Nagaland, where the bee was first discovered in the Medziphema region.
• It brings the total number of known stingless bee species in the country to 19.
• Characteristics:
  • Morphology: Under a microscope, the researchers found distinct differences in the male's underside and reproductive organs, specifically a C-shaped notch and a sharply curved penis valve.
  • It is notably smaller, with a body length of about 5 millimetres.
  • Unlike common honey bees that build hives in trees or buildings, these bees are subterranean, living under the soil.
  • Its home is also unique; as it builds compact clusters of brood cells protected by several thin layers of wax and organic material to survive the damp, underground environment.
• Ecological Role: Stingless bees are vital pollinators for local crops and wild vegetation.

About Germany:

• Location: It is located in central Europe.
• Bordering Countries: It shares its land border with Denmark (North), Poland and Czech Republic (East), Austria and Switzerland (South), and France, Luxemburg, Belgium and Netherlands (West).
• Maritime Border: It is bounded by the North Sea in the northwest and by the Baltic Sea in the northeast.
• Capital City: Berlin
• Geographical Features of Germany:
  • Climate: It is favored with a generally temperate climate.
  • Major mountain Ranges: Alps & Bavarian highlands
  • Major River: The most substantial rivers in Germany are the Rhine, the Elbe, and the Danube. 
  • Lake: Lake Constance is the largest freshwater lake, bordering Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
  • Natural Resources: It majorly consists of lignite, coal, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, potash, uranium.

About Coral Bleaching:

• It happens when corals experience stress in their environment due to changes in temperature, pollution or high levels of ocean acidity.
• Process of Coral Bleaching:
  • Under stressed conditions, the zooxanthellae or food-producing algae living inside coral polyps start producing reactive oxygen species, which are not beneficial to the corals.
  • So, the corals expel the colour-giving zooxanthellae from their polyps, which expose their pale white exoskeleton, giving the corals a bleached appearance.
  • This also ends the symbiotic relationship that helps the corals to survive and grow.

What Causes Coral Bleaching?

• Change in Ocean Temperature: Increased Ocean temperature caused by climate change is the leading cause of coral bleaching.
• Runoff and Pollution: Storm generated precipitation can rapidly dilute ocean water and runoff can carry pollutants, which can bleach near shore corals.
• Overexposure to sunlight: When temperatures are high, high solar irradiance contributes to bleaching in shallow water corals.
• Extremely low tides: Exposure to the air during extremely low tides can cause bleaching in shallow corals.

What are Corals?

• Corals are marine invertebrates or animals not possessing a spine.
• Each coral is called a polyp and thousands of such polyps live together to form a colony, which grows when polyps multiply to make copies of themselves.
• Corals share a symbiotic relationship with single-celled algae called zooxanthellae.
  • The algae provide the coral with food and nutrients, which they make through photosynthesis, using the sun’s light.
  • In turn, the corals give the algae a home and key nutrients. The zooxanthellae also give corals their bright colour.