New Delhi: The Supreme Court has refused to interfere in the caste census case. The apex court said that this matter falls within the purview of the government and is a matter of policy. The Supreme Court refused to consider the petition demanding caste census on socio-economic basis.

However, after the court's permission, the petitioner sought permission to withdraw the petition. A division bench of Justices Rishikesh Rai and SVN Bhatti heard the matter on Monday and gave petitioner P. Prasad Naidu an opportunity to withdraw his petition. In this petition, the central government was asked to order a caste census.

The court asked- what can be done about this?

The division bench, while refusing to hear the petition, asked senior advocate Ravi Shankar Jandial and advocate Shravan Kumar Karanam, appearing for the petitioner, what can be done about this? This is an issue of good governance and government. This is a matter of policy. Advocate Jandial said that many countries have conducted caste census, but it has not been done in India yet.

The demand was made in the petition

Naidu had said in his petition that the Center and its agencies are repeatedly postponing the 2021 census. The petition said that the Socio-Economic Caste Census will help identify disadvantaged groups, ensure equitable resource distribution and monitor the implementation of targeted policies. The last caste-wise data of 1931 has become outdated.

The petitioner said that accurate data from the Census and Socio-Economic and Caste Census is important for the Central Government to achieve social justice and constitutional objectives. The SECC, conducted in 2011 for the first time since independence, was aimed at collecting comprehensive data on socio-economic indicators, including caste-related information.

He said, 'The 1992 Indra Sahni decision states that this census should be done from time to time.' The bench said that it is dismissing the petition because the court cannot interfere in this matter. Sensing the mood of the court, the lawyer sought permission to withdraw the petition, which was accepted by the bench.