Punjab HC: Delete column of caste in forms

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday issued a notice to Punjab, Haryana governments and Chandigarh administration stating that the column of caste in various forms, including FIRs, must be done away with. The notice follows a PIL that sought deletion of the column.  

The matter reached before the High Court following the petition filed by a Chandigarh-based Advocate, HC Arora, who argued that mentioning caste in various forms was in conflict with various provisions of the Constitution which guarantees a caste-free society.

Highlighting that the mention of caste was in violation of fundamental rights, Arora sought directions be given to state governments to further direct all Investigating Officers not to mention the caste or religion of the accused, victim or witnesses in recovery memos, FIRs, seizure memos, inquest papers and other forms prescribed under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, as well as under the Punjab Police Rules, 1934.

He argued that instead of caste, other alternative forms of identification, including Aadhaar Card number, House Number or Ward Number of accused, witness or victim could be utilised by the officers concerned.

Justice SS Saron observed that “Sikh Gurus had already issued an edict more than three hundred years ago”. The next date of hearing is on May 25.