Today, On 17th October, The Supreme Court decided to postpone the hearing of several petitions that challenge the Patna High Court’s ruling in favour of the caste-based survey conducted by the Bihar government. These petitions were filed in response to the High Court’s earlier decision to uphold the legality of the caste survey in Bihar. The apex court rescheduled the hearing for November 7, 2024.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court decided to postpone the hearing of several petitions that challenge the Patna High Court’s ruling in favour of the caste-based survey conducted by the Bihar government.
These petitions filed in response to the High Court’s earlier decision to uphold the legality of the caste survey in Bihar.
The apex court rescheduled the hearing for November 7, 2024.
The case has drawn significant public and political attention, as it touches on the sensitive and complex issue of caste demographics and their implications for government policy and resource allocation in the state.
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In January 2023, the Bihar government initiated a caste-based survey aimed at collecting socio-economic data of different caste groups across the state. This decision made after the Union government, in 2021, decided not to include caste-based enumeration in the upcoming national Census.
The Bihar government, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, argued that the survey was crucial for implementing targeted welfare schemes and addressing socio-economic disparities within different caste groups.
The petitions, filed by non-governmental organizations such as Youth for Equality and Ek Soch Ek Prayas, among others, contest the Patna High Court’s August 2 decision last year, which validated the Bihar government’s initiative to undertake a caste-based enumeration.
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As the Supreme Court prepares to hear the petitions on November 7, the outcome of this case could have far-reaching consequences. If the court upholds the Patna High Court’s decision, it may pave the way for more states to initiate their own caste surveys. On the other hand, if the Supreme Court rules against the survey, it could not only halt Bihar’s efforts but also set a precedent restricting state-level demographic surveys in the future.
Until the final verdict is reached, the Bihar government’s caste survey remains a focal point of legal, political, and social discussions across the country.