NEW DELHI: Akhilesh Yadav, the chief of the Samajwadi Party (SP), criticized the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government following its order to remove all caste references from police records and public notices. This decision was made after the Allahabad High Court mandated the elimination of caste-based discrimination, directed at all police units and district administrations.
In a post on X, Yadav posed several pressing questions to the government. He inquired whether it would address “the conspiracies filled with caste discrimination that involve defaming someone by making false and humiliating accusations.” He also asked how the government planned to eradicate caste discrimination that has persisted for 5,000 years, tackle discriminatory norms associated with clothing and symbolic markers, and eliminate the practice of inquiring about someone’s caste during introductions.
Additionally, Yadav highlighted concerns regarding practices that marginalize certain castes, such as the expectation for individuals to clean homes based on their caste background. He reiterated his inquiries about the government’s strategies to combat deeply rooted caste discrimination.
The order, issued to all police units and district administrations on a recent Sunday, aligns with a September 16 judgement from the Allahabad High Court aimed at eradicating caste-based discrimination. Deepak Kumar, the officiating chief secretary, stated that caste identifiers would no longer be recorded in police registers, case memos, arrest documents, or displayed on police station notice boards. However, exceptions exist for cases under the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, where caste identification remains legally necessary.
Furthermore, the government has banned caste-based rallies throughout the state and instructed law enforcement to closely monitor social media platforms to ensure compliance. Vehicles displaying caste names or slogans will also face penalties under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 1988.
