Discrimination on the basis of caste and religion in Mumbai: Direct refusal to provide a flat to a Marathi person

A shocking incident has come to light in Bhayander, a suburb of Mumbai, where a Marathi man was directly denied a flat. The person concerned has alleged that before allocating a house, caste and religion were asked and it was directly said that “only if you are Marwari, Jain or Brahmin you will get a flat; not a Marathi person.” The flat was rejected as soon as the caste was found out. In Mumbai, which was once built by Marathi servants who came from Konkan during the textile mills, today it is a serious and thought-provoking issue that a Marathi person is not getting a house in his own state based on his caste. This is a clear violation of Article 14 (Right to Equality) and Article 15 (Prohibition of Discrimination on the Basis of Caste and Religion) of the Indian Constitution. Given the increasing discrimination in the housing sector and the trend of housing decisions based on caste and religion, this case highlights the urgent need for strict action and policy intervention.