In Senjerimalai, Coimbatore, a court battle won Dalit families a corner of the public burial ground, but a literal fence of caste prejudice still stands.

Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu: “Is it a crime to be born Dalit and even a crime to die a Dalit?” asked lawyer Suryakumar, who filed a case in the Madras High Court in February 2025 seeking the removal of an “untouchability fence” at the public burial ground of Tamil Nadu’s Senjerimalai village.

In the village in Coimbatore district’s Kumarapalayam Panchayat, Dalit families were denied access to a five-acre burial ground. For generations, dominant castes prevented them from using it.

“We were forced to bury our loved ones on a tiny one-cent (around 435 square feet) plot near a water stream, 1.5 km away from the village,” Suryakumar told 101Reporters. “There wasn’t even a proper path to carry bodies, and during the rainy season, reaching that place was nearly impossible.”

The small graveyard near the stream that Dalits in the village were forced to use (Photo Prasanth - Prasanth Shanmugasundaram, 101Reporters)

In January 2024, the residents of the Scheduled Caste community petitioned the Coimbatore District Collector, seeking access to the public burial ground and an end to discrimination, but no action was taken. 

After some time, the panchayat fenced off the section used by dominant castes, adding another layer to the already prevalent segregation in the village. 

“Should we be denied the right to bury our loved ones because of our caste? Even for rights guaranteed by the Constitution, we had to take the matter to court,” Suryakumar said.

During the hearing, the High Court noted that untouchability was being practised in Senjerimalai village, with a fence laid in between the sections of the burial ground. The Additional Government Pleader told the court that steps were being taken to remove the fence. The court directed that any action required for removal should be carried out and reported, giving the authorities time until March 19, 2025.

Untouchability was abolished by Article 17 of the Constitution of India in 1950, and its practice in any form is forbidden and punishable by law. The Protection of Civil Rights Act of 1955 (renamed from the Untouchability Offences Act) prescribes punishments for enforcing any disability arising from untouchability, such as denying access to public places or resources on the basis of caste. 

But even seven months later, the fence remains. The Dalit community was, however, allotted 12 cents by the panchayat (around 52,000 square feet) of land within the burial ground, still separated by the fence, even though it is technically public land. 

“Even in death, there is caste prejudice,” Suryakumar said. He travelled five times to Chennai, 400 km each way, for hearings. “Even after the court order, the untouchability fence has not been removed. The shelter inside the burial ground, used for shade during burial rituals, was also partly blocked with concrete so that Dalits cannot use it. I could move court because I am a lawyer, but how many villages can manage this?”

Notably, since the court order, no Dalit member has been buried in the allotted plot, as no one from the community has died.

According to the local administration, it is not an “untouchability fence” but a barricade put to protect saplings. In practice, however, it divides the burial ground along caste lines (Photos - Prasanth Shanmugasundaram, 101Reporters)

Tiptoeing around the ‘untouchability fence’

Residents say the High Court order has changed little in daily life. The Kumarapalayam Panchayat received the Social Justice Burial Award in 2024, which comes with a Rs 10 lakh grant intended to maintain a burial ground open to all castes. The funds were used to build a concrete road in the Dalit settlement, while the fence continued to enforce social boundaries.

“Fence or no fence, discrimination continues in this village,” said Thangavalavan, a farm labourer (54). “In the Mariamman temple, only members of the dominant caste are allowed inside; Dalits must pray from outside. Even in burial grounds, caste dictates where we can go.”

Thangavalavan recalls, “In 2024, when my sister’s son died, around 200 of us protested, demanding a burial space in the village’s common burial ground. The dominant caste also staged a protest, and the police did not allow us to bury the body. Only because the court intervened did we finally get some space. Even now, out of fear, no one from our community crosses the fence.”

According to local administration, it is not an “untouchability fence” but a barricade put to protect saplings. In practice, however, the dominant caste uses it to keep Dalits away from their burial area. The five-acre ground is divided along caste lines, with the dominant caste’s around 24-cent section fenced, and the Dalit community using the area near the fence.

Sultanpet Union Block Development Officer Sivakami told 101Reporters that the fence was erected in 2024 under MGNREGS, costing Rs 2.17 lakh, to protect saplings. The shelter was partly blocked because people were damaging the plants, but anyone can use it.

Attempts to reach Coimbatore District Collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar went unanswered.

Caste lines that refuse to fade

When the fence was erected in 2024, Kumarapalayam Panchayat was headed by Savithri of the dominant caste. Her son, Muthu Manikam, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party member and Secretary of Sultanpet East Union, effectively acted as the Panchayat President, planning and executing activities.

In a recent interview with Vikatan Tamil, Manikam said the government sanctioned Rs 10 lakh for a “Social Justice Burial Ground,” which he said was used to build a road in the Dalit settlement. When asked about the fence and decades of unresolved discrimination, he ended the call, citing a funeral. Attempts to reach Savithri were unsuccessful.

Activist Kathir, founder of Evidence, says, “Wherever you go in Tamil Nadu, separate burial grounds for dominant castes and Dalits are common. In a survey across four regions, more than 240 panchayats in the southern region alone denied Dalits access to public burial grounds. In nearly 70% of villages, untouchability persists in burial grounds.”

(Above) In 2024, following a death in the community, around Dalit residents protested, demanding space in the village’s common burial ground; (below) They had also submitted a petition to the district collector (Photos sourced by Prasanth Shanmugasundaram, 101Reporters)

Former Indian Administrative Services officer Sivakami adds, “Dalits are still blocked from carrying bodies through dominant caste areas, even on government roads, in districts like Tiruvannamalai, Sivagangai, Dharmapuri, and Madurai. Filing cases or petitions often brings no solution. They are caught between denial of burial grounds and access routes, forced to live with humiliation even in death.”

Vanni Arasu, Deputy General Secretary of VCK, suggests: “Each district should hold monthly vigilance committee meetings, chaired by the District Collector and SP, to discuss caste discrimination. Currently, these meetings are mostly ceremonial. Proper enforcement is needed, with strict action against officials who fail to address caste-related issues.”

Government promises versus ground realities

Tamil Nadu’s Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Minister Mathiventhan told 101Reporters, “In urban areas, cremation grounds exist, so caste segregation does not arise. In villages, we are making efforts to establish social justice. Panchayats that maintain common burial grounds receive Rs 10 lakh. From 2021 to now, 259 villages received this reward, 57 new burial grounds were created for Dalits, and many access path issues were resolved. A committee will soon be formed to eradicate caste discrimination in burial grounds.”

The assurances, however, contrast with reality. According to residents, the state seems not to be aware of the full scope of the problem nor enforced strict action.

(Above) Kumarapalayam panchayat; (below) Advocate Suryakumar standing outside the segregated burial ground (Photos - Prasanth Shanmugasundaram, 101Reporters)

Suryakumar pointed to deeper structural inequities prevalent in Tamil Nadu: “For the past 30 years, only members of the dominant caste have been Panchayat Presidents in Kumarapalayam. For true social justice, the post should be reserved for the Scheduled Castes. Only then can our community have a chance to lead.”

He also reflected on the High Court victory in the public burial ground case: “For generations, we were denied this right. Even though the fence remains, I stopped the legal fight, thinking that at least we have a respectful place to bury our loved ones. Before, it was a 1-cent plot near a stream; now it’s 12 cents. It’s a small victory, but seeing the fence every day reminds me our struggle isn’t over. Why should we have to go to court for basic rights? If the government simply allowed all communities access, everything could change overnight. Will they?”

This story is part of our series, 'Last Rights, Lost Rights,' about death in rural India and what it reveals about caste, class, migration, governance, and ecology.

Cover Photo: The 'untouchability fence' continues to stand in Kumarapalayam panchayat even after the High Court order asking it to be dismantled (Photo - Prasanth Shanmugasundaram, 101Reporters)