New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh government has banned caste-based political rallies and public events with political motives, following a directive from the Allahabad High Court aimed at curbing caste discrimination. The state has also ordered the removal of all caste references from police records and public notices. Calling caste-based rallies a threat to “public order” and “national unity,” the government issued a sweeping 10-point order directing officials to ensure immediate and effective compliance.
The order prohibits caste-based rallies, removes caste details of accused persons from police registers, case memos, arrest documents, and police station notice boards, and instructs that the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) portal be updated to delete caste fields. Until the update is complete, officials have been told to leave such fields blank. Authorities have also been directed to remove boards or signs in towns and villages that glorify caste identities or demarcate areas by caste. Vehicles displaying caste stickers or slogans will now face fines under the Motor Vehicles Act.
The move has sparked political reactions, with opposition parties criticising the government for silencing marginalised voices. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav questioned whether the government had any plan to tackle the deeply entrenched caste discrimination in society. In a post on X, he asked what would be done to end discrimination expressed through clothing, symbols, and the practice of asking about caste before learning someone’s name. He also questioned how the government would address social practices that humiliate or target individuals on the basis of caste.
The measures come in compliance with the Allahabad High Court’s September 16 judgment in the Praveen Chetri vs State of UP case, which barred police from recording caste details of accused persons and instructed the state to prevent caste glorification in public and digital spaces.
