Caste Census: Patna HC Rejects Bihar Govt.’s Plea For Early Hearing

The Patna High Court today has rejected a plea filed by the Bihar government that sought rescheduling of hearing in the writ pleas challenging enumeration & economic survey of caste in the State.

The division bench of Chief Justice KV Chandran stated that on July 3rd hearing will take place.

Dinu Kumar, (petitioner’s advocate) appeal stated that, “The high court has rejected the appeal and has given clear directions that a hearing will be held from July 3 and no adjournment will be given.”

The State government stated in its petition that the court has given its final decision on the issues raised in these PILs.

However, the court cancelled this petition of the state government and the date of the hearing has been fixed on July 3 only.

Earlier on May 4, the Patna High Court put an interim stay on the listing of castes and economic survey in Bihar.

While passing in an interim order, the division bench of Chief Justice KV Chandran directed the state government to not share and use the data collected during this period.

It has been said in the petition filed by the state government that since Patna HC has made it clear that the state government doesn’t have the statutory authority to conduct a caste census, there is no reason to hear these petitions on July 3.

However, the executive doesn’t have the jurisdiction to conduct a caste census.

Also, the court said that the privacy of the public is violated by the caste census. No law has been made by the legislature in this regard.