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. Further Information 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. Action Finished: This Urgent Appeal has now ended. No further action is requested at this point. Thank you for taking action on this case. Front Line issues Urgent Appeals on behalf of human rights defenders at risk on a daily basis. These Appeals normally remain active on our web site for a period of up to six weeks, depending on the situation. After this time they will be archived. Front Line maintains a watching brief on all these cases but no further action is requested after the six weeks, unless there is a significant development in the case.