UP Govt Implements HC Directive: 10-Point Ban on Caste in Rallies, Vehicles, Police Records & Social Media

Directive mandates NCRB to remove caste column from CCTNS, includes mother’s name in records, and orders removal of caste signboards across UP.

In a landmark step to address caste-based discrimination and political mobilisation, the Uttar Pradesh government has issued a 10-point directive banning caste-based political rallies, caste identifiers in police records, and public displays such as caste stickers on vehicles or signboards. The directive was issued late Sunday by officiating Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar to all district magistrates, secretaries, police commissioners, SSPs, SPs, and heads of police across the state.

The move, which cites a September 16 Allahabad High Court order, frames caste-based rallies as a threat to “public order” and “national unity.” With assembly elections due in 2027, it is expected to have significant political ramifications in a state where caste identity often drives political outreach.

Why the Ban Was Issued

The directive states that caste-based rallies organised for political purposes “promote caste conflict in society” and contradict the government’s inclusive policy consistent with constitutional values of equality and fraternity.

It also emphasises the need to eliminate caste-based discrimination by banning not only rallies but also the visible public markers of caste, which have become entrenched in everyday life—from vehicles and signboards to social media.

Key Provisions of the 10-Point Directive

1. Caste in Police Records

   • Police records—panchanamas (site reports), arrest memos, personal search memos, and notice boards at police stations—must not carry caste details.

   • The only exception is for cases under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, where caste is legally required.

   • Police forms will now include the names of both parents of the accused, with emphasis on recording the mother’s name alongside the father’s, promoting gender equality in official records.

     
     

2. CCTNS Portal (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System)

   • The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has been asked to delete the caste column in its online portal.

   • Until this is technically modified, caste information should be omitted, and provisions should be made to add the mother’s name alongside the father’s name in all records.

     
     

3. Ban on Caste-Based Rallies

   • All caste-based political rallies are now strictly prohibited across the state as they are considered to promote division and threaten public order.

     
     

4. Vehicles and Motor Vehicles Act

   • Vehicles displaying caste names, slogans, or stickers will be challaned under the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

     
     

5. Signboards and Announcements

   • Boards or announcements glorifying caste or declaring certain areas as belonging to a caste group must be removed immediately.

   • Authorities must take steps to ensure such displays are not put up in the future.

     
     

6. Social Media Monitoring

   • Caste-glorifying or caste-hate messages on social media platforms will be strictly monitored.

   • Strong action will be taken against those spreading caste hatred or inciting caste sentiments online.

What the Allahabad High Court Said

The Allahabad High Court order, which triggered this policy, was issued while hearing a petition by Praveen Chhetri concerning a liquor seizure case in April 2023 where caste details of the accused were recorded in the FIR.

• Justice Vinod Diwakar observed that such caste identifiers are “contrary to constitutional values” and directed that they be removed from police records and notice boards.

• The Court criticised the DGP’s justification for retaining caste records, calling it “detached from the complex realities of Indian society and the demands of professional policing.”

• The HC flagged that notice boards in all UP police stations carry caste columns against accused names, and ordered their immediate deletion.

• It also noted that in rural India, suburban towns, and certain colonies, caste pride has led to signboards declaring areas as caste territories or estates, calling this “caste narcissism” and asking for their removal.

The HC further directed:

• The government to prepare a regulatory framework to amend the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) to ban caste slogans and identifiers on vehicles.

• Provisions under the IT Rules, 2021 (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) must be strengthened to act against caste-hate content on social media.

Political and Social Implications

1. Political Ramifications

   • The ban will affect both ruling and opposition parties.

   • For the BJP and its allies like Apna Dal, Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party, and NISHAD Party, who often rely on caste mobilisation, the directive may restrict outreach.

   • For opposition parties like the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), caste-based meetings, rallies, and slogans—integral to their mobilisation—will now face legal restrictions.

   • With elections due in 2027, this could alter campaign strategies significantly.

     
     

2. Social Cohesion

   • The policy aims to curb caste-based polarisation and promote inclusivity.

   • By replacing caste identifiers with parental names, especially the mother’s, the reform aligns with gender equality goals.

   • The removal of caste signboards, slogans, and identifiers is expected to help dismantle visible caste hierarchies in society.

     
     

3. Developmental Angle

   • The HC emphasised that eradicating caste-based discrimination is vital for achieving India’s development goals by 2047.

   • It also noted that technological tools are sufficient for identifying individuals, making caste references in policing redundant.

The Larger Message

The UP government’s order reflects an attempt to move beyond caste markers in politics, policing, and public life. By acting on the High Court’s directions, it sets a precedent for other states where caste identifiers remain entrenched in governance and public spaces.

While the effectiveness of enforcement will be tested over time, the step signals a shift towards policies rooted in constitutional values of equality, unity, and dignity. As campaigning for the 2027 Assembly Elections intensifies, the ban is likely to reshape not just electoral mobilisation but also the broader social discourse on caste identity in public life.