Justice C.V. Karthikeyan, Justice R. Sakthivel, Madras HC (Madurai Bench)
No Private Educational Institution Or Employer Can Mandatorily Collect Caste Details: Madras High Court
|The petitioner approached the Madras High Court seeking a direction to prohibit private educational institutions and private employers from collecting caste details.
The Madras High Court has prohibited private educational institutions or private employers within the State from mandatorily collecting caste details.
The High Court was considering a Petition whereby the petitioner sought a direction against the respondents to prohibit private educational institutions and private employers within Tamil Nadu from collecting caste or community details mandatorily in application forms, except as specifically required under certain statutory provisions.
The Division Bench of Justice C.V. Karthikeyan and Justice R. Sakthivel held, “But however, we issue a direction now that no private educational institution or private employer within Tamil Nadu can mandatorily collect caste details.”
The petitioner appeared in-person while Government Advocate K.K. Udayakumar represented the Respondent.
The Bench took note of the fact that the same issue had come up for consideration before the Principal Seat in G.Balakrishnan v. State of Tamil Nadu wherein a Government Order dated July 31, 2000 was directed to be given wide publicity, so that such persons who do not want to declare their caste or religion are not compelled to do so.
The petitioner had stated that if the caste is not mentioned, then the candidate would be discriminated against and action would be taken. The Bench, however, clarified that no private educational institution or private employer within Tamil Nadu can mandatorily collect caste details.
With such direction, the Bench disposed of the Petition and held that no further directions were to be issued except the aforementioned.
Cause Title: N. Vikraman v. The State of Tamil Nadu (Neutral Citation: 2026:MHC:3608)