'Govt Needs To Know Number Of Persons In Backward Castes': Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Against Caste Enumeration In Census
The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition challenging the Union Government's decision to undertake caste enumeration as part of the upcoming Census, observing that the government must know the number of persons belonging to backward castes to frame welfare measures.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi was hearing a PIL filed by one Sudhakar Gummula, who appeared in person.
The bench said the issue falls within the realm of policy and declined to interfere.
The Petitioner-in-person argued that the collection of caste data could be susceptible to misuse, particularly if such information were to fall into the hands of corporate entities and politicians. According to him, there was no justification to collect caste data.
Rejecting the contention, the CJI said, "These are all policy matters, whether census should be caste-based or not. What is wrong with it? Any day's Government must know how many people are backward class, what kind of welfare measures are to be taken for them. It is within the policy domain."
The petitioner claimed that the Government already has plent of data.
Dismissing the petition, the Court stated that caste enumeration is a policy decision of the government.
Case : Sudhakar Gummula v. Union of India | Diary No. 50275/2025