India Observers

  The Supreme Court has declined to intervene in the Bihar state government’s decision to release a  caste survey  but has expressed a willingness to scrutinize the exercise. Justices Sanjiv Khanna and S V N Bhatti emphasized the court’s inability to obstruct a state government’s policy decision. While the bench acknowledged the concern raised by senior advocate Aprajita Singh regarding a breach of privacy, it clarified that individual names and identities have not been disclosed. Instead, the court emphasized its focus on examining the state government’s authority to conduct such surveys. The survey discloses significant demographic information, revealing that Yadavs, classified under the OBC group, constitute the largest caste in terms of population. Meanwhile, Dalits (SCs) account for 19.65 percent of the total population. The Supreme Court remains committed to addressing the broader issue of data breakdown and its accessibility to the public, signaling a cautious appr...