Supreme Court declines to entertain petitions against caste census.

• The Bihar government had recently launched the caste survey which aims to compile data on each family digitally through a mobile application from the panchayat to the district level.
• However, pleas were submitted to quash the notification on the ground that the caste-based census”violated the basic structure of the Constitution”
• SC refused to entertain the petitions and asked the petitioners to approach the high court.

About Caste Census

• Caste Census is the caste-wise tabulation of population in the census exercise.
• Caste was included as a parameter in Census data only during the 1931 Census.
• Ever since independence, the Census had only the data related to SC and ST populations.
• Caste Census is under the administrative control of Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Earlier in 2011 attempt was made towards Caste Census by conducting the Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC).
• Rohini Commission was another attempt by categorization within OBCs for better targeted service delivery.
• Need for Caste Census
  • Obsolete data as the data is nearly 8 decades old.
  • Hindrance to sub categorisation of OBCs as denoted by Rohini Commission.
  • To have sufficient data for Govt policy making.
  • To provide equitable representation to all castes.