Supreme Court rejects PIL to exclude caste enumeration from population census

The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking exclusion of caste enumeration in population census [Sudhakar Gummula vs. Union of India].

The Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi said that the issue lies within the policy domain of the government and courts cannot intervene.

"Whether census should be caste or not caste based is a policy decision. Government has to know how many (people) are backward class etc," the CJI remarked.

The Bench then proceeded to dismiss the plea filed by one Sudhakar Gummula.

"This is policy matter. No reason to intervene. Dismissed," the order said.