Census 2027 : Supreme Court Seeks Centre's Response On Plea Raising Concerns Over Self-Declaration Of Caste Status

The Supreme Court today called on the Union of India to place before it the Standing Operating Procedure being followed in connection with the 2027 Census. 

While hearing a plea alleging infirmity in the collection of caste data under the Census, CJI Surya Kant initially opined that, "Government authorities don't collect information merely on form basis". But later, the judge asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was present in Court, to place a note before the Court. 

Without issuing notice on the petition before the Court, the CJI bench, also comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana, conveyed to SG Mehta the petitioner's concern that only an application form for self-disclosure of information is being supplied to collect caste data.

The CJI asked SG to clarify what is the procedure for a person to declare themselves as an OBC, ST, etc., for example, whether they are required to attach a caste certificate, who should issue such a certificate, and how to verify the genuineness of such certificate. 

Directing that the petitioner handover a copy of the petition to the Solicitor General, the CJI further underlined the issue of fake caste certificates, saying that verification is important to ensure genuine people are not adversely impacted. 

Senior Advocate Mukta Gupta, for petitioner, recapitulated that the Court had asked the authorities to consider the petitioner's legal notice and representation. The senior counsel emphasized that the authorities were collecting caste data solely on the basis of a form/questionnaire. "Whatever you want to give, you can fill in whatever", she stressed. 

Gupta further highlighted the dangers of erroneous information creeping in the census data, underlining that various social welfare schemes are based on census data. She alleged that the authorities did not respond to the petitioner's RTI seeking information on the material and "verifiable data" that the authorities would be looking at in this regard. 

"They say we have prepared a detailed questionnaire. They are spending 13,000 crores on this census. On the basis of this census, welfare schemes will be formulated. Budget will be allocated accordingly. And it will be valid for another 10-15 years. See the catastrophe of 1 single mistake which is going to cost the entire census data at a ransom. What is the validity of such a ransom?", Gupta argued. 

The senior counsel submitted that when authorities go for census, they cannot merely rely on what a person is willing to say on their caste status. "They have to show guidelines. That what should be the basis of entering it (caste data). Tomorrow, somebody will claim look in the caste census I'm...", she urged. 

The public interset litigation, filed by one Aakash Goel, seeks direction to the respondent-authorities to disclose any decision taken concerning recording and authentication of government-issued caste-certificate particulars. 

It further seeks disclosure of methodology and safeguards governing recording and verification under Item 10 of Notification S.0.4505(E) dated 14.08.2026, including the applicable Household Schedule and relevant instructions, while preserving confidentiality of individual information. The petitioner also prays for a mechanism for recording identifying particulars of government-issued caste certificates and checking their authenticity. 

It is prayed that the caste data collected under Census 2027 questionnaire be not relied upon as the sole basis for formulation or revision of reservation policies, or for determining caste-based allocation of welfare resources, unless a transparent and verifiable protocol, providing for checking authenticity of government-issued caste certificates has been implemented and the protocol has been placed on affidavit before the Court.