SC Agrees To Urgently Hear Plea Challenging Bihar Caste Census On January 13

A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said that it will hear the petition challenging the Bihar government's notification on Caste Census on Friday. 

SC to hear the plea challenging Bihar Caste Census on Friday

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave assent to the request for an urgent hearing on the petition challenging the Bihar government's Caste Census in the state. 

According to ANI, a lawyer mentioned the plea before the top court seeking an urgent hearing of the petition challenging the Bihar Government's notification for conducting the Caste Census in the state. 

Responding to the plea, a bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said that it will hear the petition on Friday, January 13. 

Meanwhile, another petition was moved in the Supreme Court recently by a social worker Akhilesh Kumar who said that the decision of the state of Bihar is illegal, arbitrary, irrational, unconstitutional and without the authority of law. 

"That the cause of action arose on/from the impugned Notification dated 06.06.2022 issued by Deputy Secretary, Government of Bihar, whereby the decision of the Government to conduct caste census has been communicated to the media and public at large," the petition mentioned 

According to the petitioner's submission, there are a total of more than 200 castes in Bihar and all those castes are classified as General Category, OBC, EBC, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes, ANI report said. 

According to plea, "In Bihar, there are 113 castes which are known as OBC and EBC, eight castes are included in the category of Upper Caste, there are about 22 sub castes which are included in Scheduled Caste category and there are 29 about Sub Castes which are included in the scheduled category. " 

Bihar Caste Census 

The much-talked-about caste census began in the state of Bihar on January 7. The first phase of the census will culminate on January 21 while the second phase will start on 1st April this year. A total amount of around Rs 500 crore will be spent on the exercise. 

 Speaking on the census, Patna DM said, "We've started the caste survey today, first phase will be held from Jan 7 to Jan 21. The second phase will be held in April in which information related to socio-economics will be taken. There are a total of 20 lakh families in Patna, which will be counted in 1st phase." 

Seen as a strong move to woo voters of different castes, the census was heavily debated in Bihar. It is also one of the reasons why JD(U) broke its alliance with BJP last year and formed a coalition government in the state with its old rival-cum-political partner, RJD.   

Both Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav have been backing the cause of the caste census asserting it will help them form better welfare schemes for the people of different castes in the state.   

 

(With Agency Inputs)