Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Friday said a report on caste census in the state would be tabled in the next meeting of the Cabinet. The Karnataka Socio-Economic and Education Survey report, commonly known as the 'Karnataka caste census', was originally scheduled to be presented in the state cabinet meeting on January 16. "We didn't table the caste census in this cabinet meeting but we will table it in the next meeting," he told reporters here. Asked what was there in the report, he said, "I don't know what is there because it has not been tabled yet." On the Mangaluru bank heist, the chief minister said he has instructed police to find out the culprits. Caste census has emerged as a contentious issue, particularly among the state's dominant communities -- the Lingayats and Vokkaligas -- who have expressed reservations about the survey done, calling it "unscientific" and have demanded that it be rejected and a fresh survey be conducted. The survey was commissioned by the .
The Union Home Ministry has amended the prison manual rules to check discrimination and classification of inmates in jails on the basis of their caste. In a communication to chief secretaries of all states and Union territories, the Union Home Ministry said to address the issue of any caste-based discrimination of prisoners, 'Model Prison Manual, 2016' and the 'Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023' have been amended. The changes have been made in the wake of the October 3, 2024 order of the Supreme Court on the caste-based discrimination of prisoners. According to the new addition in the manual, the prison authorities will have to strictly ensure that there is no discrimination, classification, segregation of prisoners on the basis of their caste. "It shall be strictly ensured that there is no discrimination of prisoners in allotment of any duty or work in prisons on the basis of their caste," it said. Changes have also been made in the 'Miscellaneous' of the Model ..
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday said the state has embarked on a revolutionary journey with the commencement of enumeration for its caste survey. The day will be etched in golden letters in history and the government would strive hard in the coming days to ensure that the state is at the top in India in "next gen initiatives and policies for social justice". "The promise of our leader Shri @RahulGandhi ji of social justice to all weaker sections is going to be a reality in Telangana" on the basis of the caste survey, Reddy said on 'X'. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who held a video conference with senior officials in view of the beginning of enumeration after completion of house-listing during the last three days, directed district Collectors to speak to the enumerators on a regular basis so that their concerns and doubts can be addressed. Noting that the whole country would observe the caste survey undertaken by the Telangana government, he s
Over 47,000 complaints have been received by the National Commission for Scheduled Caste in the last four years, according to official data, with atrocities against Dalits, and disputes related to land and governments jobs being the main issues. As per information shared by the NCSC in response to an RTI filed by PTI, 11,917 complaints were received in 2020-21, 13,964 complaints registered in 2021-22, 12,402 in 2022-23 and 9,550 complaints so far in 2024. Speaking to PTI about the data, NCSC chairperson Kishor Makwana said the most common complaints received by the commission are related to atrocities against the Scheduled Castes community, followed by land disputes and issues related to services in the government sector. "In a bid to address the complaints speedily, from next month, me or my members would be visiting the state offices and looking into the issues faced by the people there," he said. Makwana added that he is holding hearings four times a week to meet people and list
The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has recommended the inclusion of several communities from Maharashtra into the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs). In an advisory to the government issued on Wednesday, the NCBC proposed adding communities such as Lodh, Lodha, Lodhi; Badgujar; Suryavanshi Gujar; Leve Gujar, Reve Gujar, Reva Gujar; Dangari; Bhoyar, Pawar; and Kapewar, among others. The decision followed hearings held by the NCBC's two-member bench, comprising chairperson Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and member Bhuvan Bhushan Kamal, a statement said. These hearings took place in Mumbai on October 17, 2023, and July 26, 2024. After thorough deliberations, the commission submitted its advice to the Union government on October 8, 2024, for the inclusion of these castes under the OBC category for Maharashtra, it said. The inclusion of these groups in the Central List of OBCs would entitle them to benefits, including reservations in educational institutions and ...
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said that the Socio-Economic and Education Survey report, also known as the "caste census", will either be referred to a Cabinet subcommittee or introduced in the legislature, based on what the Cabinet decides next week. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said the caste census will "most likely" be placed before the Cabinet for discussion on October 18. "We were accused of keeping the caste census in the cold storage after spending so much money. Now when we are saying that we will make it public, they are not able to take it," Parameshwara, a senior leader from the SC community, said, hitting back at the opposition over its criticism. Speaking to reporters here, he said everyone in the state knows that backward classes, minorities and Dalits are more in number, and in the days ahead for the government to plan and prepare programmes, the caste census will be helpful. "... shouldn't we prepare and give programmes for those ...
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Thane in Maharashtra, the Congress on Saturday questioned the BJP's stand on the caste census and raising the reservation cap of 50 per cent. Questioning the Mahayuti government's delays in holding the elections to the Municipal Corporations in the state, including in Thane, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said it is an attack on democracy. "The non-biological PM is in Washim and Thane, Maharashtra tomorrow. Four questions he must answer: Where does the BJP stand on the issue of a caste census and raising the cap of 50 percent on reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBCs imposed by the Supreme Court," he said in a post on X. Ramesh said Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi is in Kolhapur today, where he paid his respects to the legendary Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj -- the forerunner of the social justice movement in India -- at his Samadhi. Meanwhile, he said the prime minister is scheduled to visit the Pohradevi
Apex court termed 'unconstitutional' rules in jail manuals advocating caste-based work
The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside discriminatory provisions of prison manuals of some states while deprecating the practice of caste-based discrimination, distribution of work and segregation of prisoners in separate wards as per their castes. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud also issued a slew of directions to stop caste-based discrimination in jails. Caste cannot be a ground to discriminate against prisoners of marginalised classes in jails as per the state manuals, the bench said, adding such practices cannot be allowed. The prisoners shall not be permitted to undertake cleaning of sewers tanks in hazardous conditions, it said while ordering that the police will have to work in right earnest to deal with the cases of caste-based discriminations. The bench said prisoners of certain classes will have the right to get fair distribution of work in jails. Setting aside the objectionable rules, the top court ordered states to amend them within a period of three .
The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce its verdict on Thursday on a plea which has alleged that prison manuals of some states in the country encourage caste-based discrimination. According to the cause list of October 3 uploaded on the apex court website, a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra is slated to deliver the judgement on the petition. The apex court had in January this year sought responses from the Centre and 11 states, including Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, on the plea. It had taken note of the submissions of the petitioner's counsel that jail manuals of these states discriminate in the allocation of work inside their prisons and inmates' caste determines the places where they are lodged. The plea referred to the Kerala Prison Rules and said they lay down a distinction between a habitual and a re-convicted convict, holding that those who are by habit a robber, house breaker, dacoit or thief should be classified
Union minister Chirag Paswan has strongly batted for a nationwide caste-based census, saying data from the exercise will help in knowing the exact population of sections of society that require further upliftment. Speaking at the 'India Today Conclave' in Mumbai on Wednesday, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president also said there is no doubt the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will again form government in Bihar, where the assembly polls are due in late 2025. The Bihar assembly polls will be contested under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Paswan maintained, referring to the JD(U) leader and his one-time political rival. The Dalit leader from Bihar also asserted his party is committed to a certain section of society it represents. "We (LJP-Ram Vilas) have our own priorities, our concerns for the section of the society which we represent. If the section is wronged, then it is the responsibility of our party to become the voice of that section,"
The Supreme Court is scheduled to consider in-chambers on Tuesday a batch of pleas seeking review of its judgement which held that states are constitutionally empowered to make sub-classifications within the Scheduled Castes, which form a socially heterogeneous class, for granting reservation. As per the cause list, a seven-judge Constitution bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices B R Gavai, Vikram Nath, Bela Trivedi, Pankaj Mithal, Manoj Misra and Satish Chandra Sharma is likely to take up the matter at 1.35 pm. On August 1, the top court had held that states are constitutionally empowered to make sub-classifications within the Scheduled Castes, which form a socially heterogeneous class, for granting reservation for the uplift of castes that are socially and educationally more backward. The apex court, however, made it clear that states have to make sub-classification on the basis of "quantifiable and demonstrable data" of backwardness and representation in ...
The West Bengal government on Tuesday sought an urgent hearing on its plea in the Supreme Court against a Calcutta High Court verdict striking down the OBC status of several castes, mostly Muslim groups, for granting reservation to them in public sector jobs and state-run educational institutions. The top court bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud was told by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Trinamool Congress-led state government, that the plea along with other petitions needed to be heard as the issues like issuance of OBC certificate is stalled. The senior counsel said the authorities are unable to issue caste certificates to those seeking quota benefits in admissions, including entry to medical colleges. He said though the cases are listed for hearing in the day's list but they are unlikely to reach. The matters will be there in the board and will be taken up just after the bench concludes hearing the cases listed ahead of them, the CJI said. The case wa
Union Minister Amit Shah on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, calling it an "anti-Dalit" party and said it "insulted" Dalit leaders like Kumari Selja and Ashok Tanwar. Shah also lashed out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on reservation and asserted that if there is anybody who can protect the quota, it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shah was addressing a poll rally at Tohana for the October 5 Haryana Assembly elections. "The Congress party is an anti-Dalit party," alleged Shah in his address. "The Congress always insulted Dalit leaders, be it Ashok Tanwar or sister Kumari Selja. The Congress insulted everyone," he further alleged.
Caste equality can be promoted only by making caste a minor part of inheritance in a society where more and more families are inter-caste connected
Pressing the demand for a nationwide "caste census", Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said 90 per cent people of the country are sitting out of the system and the step would be is necessary for them. Addressing the "Samvidhan Samman Sammelan" here, Gandhi said, "90 per cent people are sitting out of the system. They have skill, knowledge but no connections (with the system). That is why we have raised the demand for a caste census." "For the Congress, the caste census is the foundation of policy making," the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
BSP chief Mayawati on Friday attacked the BJP and the INDIA bloc, alleging that while the ruling party has adopted an anti-SC/ST stance over the issue of sub-classification and identifying creamy layer for reservation within the communities, the opposition coalition's silence on the matter is proving to be "fatal". Earlier this month, a seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud ruled in a 6:1 majority judgement that state governments were permitted to sub-classify communities within the SC list based on empirical data. Supreme Court judge Justice B R Gavai had also said states must evolve a policy for identifying the creamy layer, even among the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Schedule Tribes (ST), and deny it the benefit of reservation. In posts on X in Hindi, BSahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati said, "It is very sad and worrying that the (BJP-led) Centre has not yet taken any concrete steps to restore the old system as per public expectations
The BJP may not have taken a categorical stand at the national level on the Supreme Court's landmark decision allowing states to create sub-categorisation within the SCs and STs, but several of its leaders are of the view that the verdict can help the party boost its outreach to the more disadvantaged sections of Dalits. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has assiduously cultivated the numerically-weaker Scheduled Castes (SCs) in many states, such as Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, over the years, and the apex court's verdict may allow the party to promise these communities with their most coveted wish -- their fair share in government jobs and schemes, they said. The erosion of Dalit votes that hit the BJP in the recent Lok Sabha polls has sent its brain trust to the drawing board, as the party looks to reinvigorate its outreach to the community after the opposition's allegation that the Narendra Modi government wanted to change the Constitution found some traction in the ...
Union minister Ramdas Athawale has said his Republican Party of India (A) supports conducting a caste census in the country and believes some way should be found for it. Speaking to reporters in Madhya Pradesh's Indore city on Sunday, Athawale also said there should be no malpractice in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and the Education Ministry was taking all possible steps to stop malpractices in the exam in future. He said since Article 17 of the Constitution has a provision to abolish casteism, there has been a hindrance before governments on how to get a caste-based census conducted. "My party demands that some way should be found because once the caste-based census is done, we will know the percentage of every caste in the population," the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment said. Athawale further said if future decisions include extending reservation benefits to every caste based on their population share, his party would not oppose it, ...
Ages-old bias could also be affecting what traditionally deprived communities earn