Why is untouchability a punishable offence as per the Constitution?

The Constitution of India has given the Right to Equality. But it has also empowered the government to make reservations in the job opportunities thus giving everyone an equal to achieve whatever one is capable of.

In the social life also, the policy of discrimination on the basis of caste is an offence. The Constitution clearly directs the Government to put an end to the extreme form of social discrimination, the untouchability.

Untouchability refers to any belief or social practice which looks down upon people on account of their birth with caste labels. Untouchability also means refusal to touch people belonging to certain castes. If this continues, such people will be denied of interaction with others and access to public places as other citizens do. Hence, the Constitution has made untouchability as a punishable offence.