For caste census, mere self-declaration cannot be enough: SC

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court connected Monday recorded its statement with a petitioner that specified self-declaration of caste individuality by an idiosyncratic during the projected caste enumeration successful 2027 could not assistance successful close determination of SC, ST and OBC population.Appearing for societal activistic Akash Goel, advocator Mukta Gupta told a seat of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi that the directorate of census operations, which has commenced preparatory enactment for Census 2027, has not disclosed “any predetermined criteria oregon standardised methodology” for signaling caste individuality of radical belonging to SC, ST and OBC categories during census.Since caste-enumeration would play a large relation successful devising and implementation of societal payment measures, reservations successful govt employment and admissions to acquisition institutions, and delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies, it should beryllium scientifically foolproof successful gathering data, the PIL petitioner said.The CJI-led seat said, “In rule we hold with you. But it is the occupation of the experts, and it is for them to devise the mode and the mode caste enumeration is to beryllium carried out.”Though SC did not entertain the plea, it asked Gupta to springiness the petition successful signifier of practice to directorate of census operations for indispensable action. In its order, the seat said, “We person nary reasons to uncertainty that the responsive authorities, with the assistance and assistance of domain experts, indispensable person evolved a robust mechanics successful bid to regularisation retired immoderate mistake (in caste enumeration) arsenic apprehended by the petitioner.

”“The petitioner has flagged applicable issues done earlier representation. We dispose of the writ petition with a absorption to the responsive authorities to see the suggestions/issues raised by the petitioner,” the tribunal said.