The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government has issued a sweeping order banning the mention of caste in police records and public spaces, following a directive from the Allahabad High Court aimed at curbing caste-based discrimination.
The order, signed by Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar, mandates that caste references will no longer appear in FIRs, arrest memos, or other police documents. Instead, the names of parents will be used for identification.
The government has also directed the removal of caste symbols, slogans, and references from police stations, official vehicles, and signboards across the state. In addition, caste-based rallies have been prohibited, with police instructed to closely monitor social media platforms for violations.
However, the directive provides an exception for cases filed under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, where caste identification is legally necessary.
To ensure compliance, amendments will be made to standard operating procedures and police manuals. The decision comes after the Allahabad High Court criticised the justification given by the Uttar Pradesh DGP for continuing caste mentions, calling it disconnected from the realities of Indian society and the principles of professional policing.
With this move, the UP government seeks to implement a uniform system that eliminates caste references from law enforcement and public spaces, a step that could significantly affect political mobilisations based on caste identities in the state.
