Cast-based census of Bihar challenged in Supreme Court, hearing on Friday

New Delhi: Chief Justice DY Chandrachud has agreed to hear the petition against Bihar government’s order for cast-based census in the Supreme court on January 13 (Friday).
Besides flagging several issues, the plea says that such a census can be conducted only by the central government.
The plea claimed that the move fell under the domain of the Centre and against the Basic Structure of the Constitution.
The plea was mentioned before the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dr Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud, who said, the matter will be heard on Friday.
The petition filed in Supreme Court said that the Bihar government’s decision to conduct a caste survey in the state, violates the Indian Constitution and is against its basic structure.
The petition alleged that the notification was “discriminatory and unconstitutional”. The public interest litigation, filed by advocate Barun Kumar Sinha, sought quashing of the notification issued by deputy secretary, government of Bihar, in respect of conducting a caste survey in the state and to refrain the authorities concerned from conducting the exercise.
“The notification of June 6, 2022, violated Article 14 of the Constitution, which provides for equality before law and equal protection of the law, adding that it was illegal, arbitrary, irrational and unconstitutional”, the plea claimed.