Ban On Caste-Based Political Rallies, Removal Of Caste References From Police Records, Vehicles : UP Govt Acts On High Court Order

In a significant move, the Uttar Pradesh Government has issued a sweeping 10-point order directing the removal of caste references from police records, official formats, vehicles and public spaces. The state governemnt has also prohibited holding of caste-based political rallies across the state, noting that they promote caste struggle and are against 'national unity'. The order (issued on September 21) is in compliance with the Allahabad High Court's recent judgment, in which a single judge strongly deprecated caste glorification, describing it as 'anti-national', which is violative of constitutional morality. For context, in the order passed earlier this month, the High Court said that mentioning caste in FIRs, arrest memos, seizure memos and police notice boards 'amounts to identity profiling, not objective investigation'. The Court observed that such practices "reinforce prejudice, corrupt public opinion, contaminate judicial thinking, violate fundamental rights, and undermine constitutional morality". Beyond the police records, the Court had also taken exception to the broader practice of caste glorification in on vehciles and on social media. A bench of Justice Vinod Diwkar had described caste-celebrating stickers and slogans on vehicles, signboards declaring areas as caste territories and caste-based political rallies as "promoting caste-based conflict". The judgment noted that such displays deepen social division and contradict Dr B.R. Ambedkar's constitutional vision and Supreme Court landmark rulings. Against this backdrop, the Court had issued the following directions to the UP Government: Delete caste columns from FIRs, recovery memos, arrest and surrender memos, police final reports and notice boards in police stations. Add the mother's name for identification along with father/husband's name. Remove caste identifiers and slogans from private and public vehicles by amending the Motor Vehicles Rules. Ensure removal of caste-based signboards declaring villages, towns, or colonies as caste territories. Act against caste-glorifying content on social media under the IT Rules, 2021 by complementing it with a monitoring and reporting mechanism. Read more about the HC's order here : Caste Glorification 'Anti-National', Respecting Constitution 'True Patriotism': Allahabad High Court Cracks Down On Caste References In FIRs, Public PlacesActing upon these directions, the Home Department of Uttar Pradesh issued an order on 21 September carrying detailed instructions to all police and administrative authorities. The order explicitly records that it is being issued in compliance with the High Court's mandate. The principal measures directed are thus: Deletion of caste field in CCTNS formats : The 'Field to indicate caste of accused' in the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) shall now be deleted, and NCRB is to be corresponded with for the necessary change. Inclusion of mother's name : Formats will now record the mother's name of the accused/complainants in addition to the father's or husband's name. No caste entry until deletion is complete: Data-entry staff must leave the caste column blank, treating it as a non-mandatory field. No caste mention on police notice boards : Columns indicating caste on notice boards outside police stations are to be erased. No caste in arrest/seizure memos : Arrest memos, seizure memos (बरामदगी पंचनामा), and personal search memos shall not contain caste details. Action under MV Act against vehicles : Stickers, slogans, or names indicating caste on vehicles will attract penal action under the Motor Vehicles Act. Removal of caste-glorifying boards : Signboards in towns, tehsils, and districts proclaiming caste identity or declaring any area as a caste 'jagir' must be taken down. Ban on caste-based rallies for political purposes : Such rallies are prohibited on the ground that they disturb public order. Stricter social media monitoring : Vigilance is to be maintained against messages glorifying or denigrating caste, with strong action against caste-hate content. Statutory exceptions : Caste may be recorded only where a legal mandate requires it, such as investigations under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The State government order further directs the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and the Director General of Police to prepare Standard Operating Procedures and amend police manuals and regulations accordingly.

Ban On Caste-Based Political Rallies, Removal Of Caste References From Police Records, Vehicles : UP Govt Acts On High Court Order

Sparsh Upadhyay

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