PIL before Calcutta High Court against mandate on litigants to disclose caste for filing petitions

A public interest litigation (PIL) petition was filed before the Calcutta High Court seeking modification of the Court's presentation form, which requires a litigant to disclose their caste for filing a petition..The plea filed by one Vijay Kumar Singhal said that caste identity may be necessary for conducting a census or for sketching out reservation policies, but cannot and should not be insisted for the purpose of filing a petition before a court of law.The plea said that it was unfortunate that such a practice continued to prevail even 75 years after India's independence."It is unfortunate that even after 75 years of India’s independence, this Hon’ble Court requires the petitioner/ appellant/ applicant to disclose their caste for filing a petition," the plea stated.It suggested that the presentation form be made religion and gender neutral and urged the Court to take steps to put an end to the practice of asking one to reveal their caste identity before filing a petition. "Form A must be made neutral with regard to religion and gender. If a person, who knocks on the door of the temple of justice for redressing their grievance, is made to disclose their caste identity, then India is far from being a ‘casteless’ society," the plea said.The PIL will be heard on December 6..The petitioner mentioned that since a representation made by him regarding his grievance to Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava was not acted upon by the Registrar General of the Court, he was compelled to file the PIL.The plea said that caste is personal information and every citizen can choose whether or not to disclose their personal information. "Unless a case specifically pertains to the caste identity of any litigant, the litigant must not be forced to disclose their caste identity for filing any petition before this Hon’ble Court," the PIL stated.It was contended that inducing a litigant to disclose caste identity before the Court when the case does not pertain to caste identity in any manner, is a violation of the litigant’s fundamental right guaranteed under Part III of the Indian Constitution..The petition also emphasized the significance of "Bengal Renaissance" and said it was unfortunate that Calcutta High Court, India's oldest High Court, having not only witnessed but also having contributed to the evolution and progress of Indian society, requires the petitioner to disclose their caste for filing a petition."The petitioner states that the “Bengal Renaissance” did not only signify the cultural and intellectual upsurge among the intellects of Bengal but the movement laid the very foundation on which stands the modern Indian society today. This Hon’ble Court, being the oldest High Court in India, has not only witnessed but has also actively contributed to the evolution and progress of the Indian society," the plea stated..Advocates Phiroze Edulji will be appearing as lead counsel for petitioner along with advocate Pallavi Priyadarshee.