Supreme Court Rejects Petition Against Caste Census, Criticizes Language Used

In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a petition aimed at halting the caste Census, expressing strong disapproval of the language used in the filing. Chief Justice Surya Kant criticized the petitioner for inappropriate wording, questioning the origins of such language. The court also rejected a request for economic incentives for families with a single child. This decision comes ahead of the 2027 Census, which will be the first comprehensive caste enumeration since 1931 and the first fully digital census in the country. Read on to learn more about the implications of this ruling.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 10, 2026, 12:42 IST

Supreme Court's Firm Stance on Caste Census

New Delhi: On Friday, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition that requested the government to halt the caste Census, expressing strong disapproval of the language used in the public interest litigation (PIL).

Chief Justice Surya Kant, visibly upset, remarked, 'You have used inappropriate language in your petition. Who drafted this for you?' addressing the petitioner who was present in court.

The Chief Justice further questioned, 'Where do you come up with such language for your petition?' as he led the bench, which included Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi.

The court not only dismissed this plea but also rejected another request for the government to create policies offering economic incentives to families with only one child.

Previously, on February 2, the Supreme Court had declined to entertain a separate PIL that challenged the methods for recording, classifying, and verifying caste data for the upcoming 2027 general Census.

The 2027 Census, recognized as the 16th national census, will mark the first comprehensive caste enumeration since 1931 and will be the nation's inaugural fully digital census.