Mahar’s Water Conviction Reversed
LAST May a Mahar in India was charged with having corrupted the water of a public spring in Jamkhed, near Ahmednagar. The stream was used by high caste people for drinking purposes, and the offense of the Mahar consisted in having drawn water from it, although for this he used an iron bucket, which is a clean vessel. The second-class magistrate convicted the Mahar, and fined him eight rupees. But the district magistrate of Ahmednagar thought the conviction unjustifiable, as the water of the spring was in no way rendered unclean or impure for drinking purposes, and he referred the matter to the Bombay High Court. On July 17 the High Court reversed the sentence, and directed the fine to be repaid.