7. Panchayat's Decision in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh and in Sarguja District, Chhattisgarh Leads to Violation of Human Rights of Women (Case No. 16173/24/2005-2006-WC Linked File 232/33/2005-2006-WC) (Reported in the Annual Report of 2005-2006). 6.217 The matter relates to Panchayat's decision to let off a person who had attempted to commit rape on a Scheduled Caste woman in Saharanpur (Case No. 16173/24/2005-2006-WC) and a woman directed by Panahayat in Sarguja District of Chhattisgarh to be yoked like a bullock and made to plough the agriculture field five times as she had touched the Nangar (a wooden plough), an act considered inauspicious by the people of the region and regarded as the cause for scanty rains (Case No. 232/33/2005-2006-WC). As the Commission was satisfied with the action taken report submitted by the State authorities, the case was closed. 8. Violation of Human Rights by Panchayat in Baghpat and Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh (Case No. 16755/24/2005-2006-WC) (Reported in the Annual Report of 2005-2006). 6.218 The case relates to settlement and hushing up of a case of rape and murder by a caste Panchayat in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh. The Superintendent of Police, Baghpat informed the Commission that criminal cases had been registered in respect of an incident of murder and rape. Regarding the social boycott of the villager who had solemnized the marriage of his daughter against the dictates of the caste panchayat, the decision was reversed by the Panchayat and the aggrieved family is living happily. A similar incident of one rape and one murder was reported to the Commission from Muzaffarnagar District. The allegations, however, could not be substantiated. The Commission directed the State of Uttar Pradesh to apprise it of the steps, if any, being taken by the State Government to prevent the interference of caste panchayats in the criminal justice delivery system. The response is awaited. 9. Auction of Scheduled Caste Woman in Palamu District, Jharkhand (Case No. 712/34/2005-2006WC) (Reported in the Annual Report of 2005-2006) 6.219 The Commission had called for a report from the Director General of Police, Jharkhand with regard to a case of alleged auction of a Scheduled Caste woman. A report dated 12 November 2005 from the Superintendent of Police, Latehar disclosed that (i) a criminal case No. 81/2005 u/s 376 G IPC and Section 3 (12) of the Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was registered against the rapists; (ii) financial assistance of Rs.25,000 was given to the victim, as required by law; and (iii) the woman was married to a 27-year-old man according to customary rites and is leading a happy married life. The Commission thus closed the case. National Human Rights Commission 73