Patna High Court reserves order on ongoing Bihar caste census

A division bench of Justice K Vinod Chandran reserved an order two days after hearing a petition filed by an organisation called 'Youth for equality', challenging the ongoing caste census in Bihar.

The counsel of the petitioner pointed out that the state government had no legal power to conduct caste census and such exercise could be carried out only by the Centre.

Counsel of the petitioner Dinu Kumar said the state government was spending Rs 500 Crore on the caste census which was named as caste-based survey.

A number of discrepancies would come up as the state government had clarified that none could be forced to disclose his caste and in such a case of reluctance information would be gathered from neighbour, he pointed out.

Advocate General P K Shahi said a unanimous resolution was passed in both Houses of the Bihar Legislature for a caste census.

Budgetary allocation was also made for the purpose, he said adding that caste census would help in collecting information on the socio-economic condition of the people belonging to all sections.

It would also help the state government in framing policies for those who lagged behind on the path of development, he stressed.

After the completion of the hearing, the bench of Chief Justice K Vinod Chandran reserved the judgment which would be delivered on Thursday.