Bihar govt issues order to officials to stop caste census after HC order

Patna (Bihar) [India], May 4 : Hours after the Patna High Court put an interim stay on the enumeration of castes and economic survey in Bihar, the state government on Thursday directed all district officials to follow the court order.

"Patna High Court has passed the order to put an interim stay on the ongoing caste survey in the state. It is being directed that the order should be followed and all the concerned officials should be notified," the Bihar government stated in an order.

On Wednesday, the Patna HC completed the hearing and reserved its judgement on a petition challenging and seeking an interim stay on the enumeration of castes and economic survey in Bihar.

During yesterday's hearing, a division bench of Chief Justice KV Chandran heard the petitions filed by Akhilesh Kumar and others.

Advocates Dinu Kumar, Ritu Raj and Abhinav Srivastava on behalf of the petitioners and advocate General PK Shahi on behalf of the State presented the parties before the court.

Dinu Kumar told the court that the State government is conducting caste and economic surveys. He said that this right to conduct surveys is beyond the jurisdiction of the State government.

Advocate General PK Shahi during the hearing on Wednesday said that, the survey is being conducted to make plans for public welfare and to improve the social level.

The Bihar government launched the caste survey exercise on January 7.