For caste census, mere self-declaration cannot be enough: SC

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Monday recorded its agreement with a petitioner that mere self-declaration of caste identity by an individual during the proposed caste enumeration in 2027 could not help in accurate determination of SC, ST and OBC population.

Appearing for social activist Akash Goel, advocate Mukta Gupta told a bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi that the directorate of census operations, which has commenced preparatory work for Census 2027, has not disclosed “any predetermined criteria or standardised methodology” for recording caste identity of people belonging to SC, ST and OBC categories during census.




Since caste-enumeration would play a big role in devising and implementation of social welfare measures, reservations in govt employment and admissions to educational institutions, and delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies, it should be scientifically foolproof in gathering data, the PIL petitioner said.

The CJI-led bench said, “In principle we agree with you. But it is the job of the experts, and it is for them to devise the mode and the way caste enumeration is to be carried out.”

Though SC did not entertain the plea, it asked Gupta to give the petition in form of representation to directorate of census operations for necessary action. In its order, the bench said, “We have no reasons to doubt that the respondent authorities, with the aid and assistance of domain experts, must have evolved a robust mechanism in order to rule out any mistake (in caste enumeration) as apprehended by the petitioner.”

“The petitioner has flagged relevant issues through earlier representation. We dispose of the writ petition with a direction to the respondent authorities to consider the suggestions/issues raised by the petitioner,” the court said.
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