Supreme Court Declines To Direct Pre-Loaded OBC Drop-Down Menu For Caste Column In Census, Terms It A Policy Decision

The Supreme Court disposed of a writ petition filed by the OBC Federation of India seeking a direction that the recognised list of Other Backward Classes be pre-loaded as a drop-down menu in the digital census tools for the caste question (Column No. 10) of Census 2027, observing that the issue essentially pertains to a policy decision which can be effectively addressed by policy makers.

The Court granted the petitioner liberty to approach the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, and directed that a copy of the petition be forwarded to that authority to be treated as a representation.

The Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana observed, "The issue highlighted, in our considered opinion, essentially pertains to a policy decision, which can be effectively addressed by the policy makers."

Advocate Rameshwar Thakur appeared for the Petitioner

The OBC Federation of India approached the Court under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, seeking a direction that the recognised list of the Other Backward Castes (OBCs) be pre-loaded as a drop-down menu in the digital census tools against the caste question (Column No.10) of the census 2027, the schedule whereof has been notified on August 14, 2026.

It was averred that, as per the population enumeration schedule notified, while Column No.10 provides for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/Caste, apart from SC/ST, there is an open text field, and each person has to describe their caste in their own words.

It was prayed, "Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of Certiorari or any other appropriate Writ, Order or Direction to the respondents to preload the drop down Menu of recognized lists of OBC castes into digital census tools, more specifically in Column 10 of the Gazette Notification S. O. 4505(E) dated 14.8.2026 issued by the Registrar General of India and Census Commissioner for use by the enumerators in the ensuing Census 2027."

The Petitioner contended that a field would repeat the failure of the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011, and that the Union of India/statutory authority should add a drop-down menu for selection of castes in the same manner as the practice was adopted in the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011.

"We, therefore, without expressing any opinion on merits, dispose of this Writ Petition with liberty to the petitioner to approach the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, to whom a copy of this writ petition may be forwarded as a representation, to enable that authority to look into the issue highlighted on behalf of the petitioner", the Court observed.

Accordingly, the Petition was disposed of.

Cause Title: OBC Federation of India v. Union of India & Ors. [Writ Petition (C) No.1286/2026]

Appearances:

Petitioner: Advocates Rameshwar Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Anjani Aiyagari and Vandana Khanorkar

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