Nothing wrong in holding caste census, any govt of the day should know who is backward, SC says

Key points

• The Supreme Court on Wednesday (May 20, 2026) said there is nothing wrong in the government of the day ascertaining caste as part of the nationwide census exercise.
• “Any government of the day must know how many people are backward and how many need welfare.
• This is a matter of policy,” Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, heading a three-judge Bench, said.
• The court was responding to a plea filed by petitioner-in-person Sudhakar Gummula that caste enumeration should not be made part of the Census 2027. “There are endless possibilities of politicians and corporate entities misusing the caste data.
• There is no justification for gathering such a large tract of data on caste,” Mr.