Karnataka High Court refuses to stay caste -based survey, these important conditions kept

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday (September 25, 2025) refused to stay the social and educational survey prevalent in the name of a caste -based survey. Instructing the state government to maintain the confidentiality of the data, the court also said that the survey should be voluntary. A division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Joshi said that they do not see any reason to stop the survey.

What did the bench say?
The bench said, ‘We make it clear that the data collected will not be disclosed to anyone. The Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission (KSCBC) will ensure that the figures are completely safe and confidential. The judges also directed KSCBC to issue public notification that the survey is voluntary and no one can be forced to give any information. The court said that those who calculate this thing will also have to tell the public.

Opposition to ethnic census
Significantly, the caste census being done by the Karnataka government is being opposed and it is being alleged that it can be taken political advantage. Earlier this week, the state government defended the survey and said that the central government is adopting a double attitude in this matter. The survey, which started from 22 September, will run till October 7. Due to the problems of server and network, employees had a problem with the first two days.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi gave this argument
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the state, argued that the Center had amended the 105th constitution in 2021, under which the states got the right to identify and list the backward classes. Singhvi said in the court that now the Center is now supporting the petitioners because there is a government of the opposition party in the state.