Bihar caste-based survey to be conducted as Patna High Court rejects pleas against it

The Patna High Court on Tuesday dismissed the petitions challenging the Bihar government's decision of conducting a caste-based survey in the state.With its decision, the High Court has paved way for a caste-based survey in Bihar.The court had on 7 July reserved the verdict after it heard a total of five pleas challenging various aspects of caste based survey in Bihar.The caste-based survey began in two phases in Bihar. The first phase started on 7 January and was a household counting exercise that completed on 21 January. The second phase began on 15 April in which details of people's caste, their socio-economic conditions were collected.The entire process was scheduled to end by May 2023, but the Patna High Court had put an interim stay on it on 4 May after pleas were filed. The court observed that it prima facie amounted to a census that the Bihar government has no power to carry out."The State has no power to carry out a caste-based survey, in the manner in which it is fashioned now, which would amount to a census, thus impinging upon the legislative power of the Union Parliament," the Patna High Court had observed.Meanwhile, the Bihar Government had submitted before the HC that it is competent to conduct a caste-based survey collecting data on caste, jati and socio-economic well-being of the people of the state.The Bihar government then moved to the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order staying the caste-based survey. The apex court, however, refused to lift the stay.The matter was then heard by the High Court which proceeded to dismiss the challenge on 1 August.With inputs from LiveLaw