Maharashtra Assembly has unanimously passed the Prohibition of Social Boycott Bill, which seeks to crackdown on extra-judicial bodies like caste and community panchayats.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the House that there was a demand that existing laws are inadequate to deal with social boycott cases and a new legislation was needed. The bill states that social boycott is prohibited and its commission shall be an offence. The maximum punishment for which will be seven years in prison or fine up to 5 lakh rupees or both.