Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh Bans Caste-Based Rallies, Public Signs Citing Public Order, National Unity
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath (File Photo)
In a major move, the Uttar Pradesh government has prohibited caste-based political rallies, public displays, and caste-related markings in police records, citing threats to “public order” and “national unity,” the Indian Express reported.
The directive, issued late Sunday by officiating Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar to all district magistrates, secretaries, and police heads, follows a September 16 Allahabad High Court order.
The 10-point instruction aims “to eliminate caste-based discrimination” and mandates that vehicles bearing caste names, slogans, or stickers will be challaned under the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Exceptions apply only to cases under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The order is expected to affect political parties across the spectrum, including the ruling BJP and its allies, as well as the Opposition, ahead of the 2027 assembly elections, when caste-based outreach often intensifies.
Key directives include: removing caste columns from police records such as panchanamas, arrest memos, and personal search memos; updating the CCTNS portal to omit caste and instead record the names of the mother and father of the accused; removing caste-glorifying signboards and announcements; and strictly monitoring social media for content that glorifies or denigrates any caste.
The Allahabad High Court had observed that police station notice boards often list the caste of the accused and noted that “disgruntled elements, driven by false caste pride and caste narcissism, have installed signboards glorifying caste and declaring specific geographical areas as caste territories or estates.”
The court directed the government to remove such boards and strengthen regulations against caste-based content online.
