The Karnataka High Court on Thursday (September 25, 2025) refused to stay the prevailing social and educational survey being held in the state in the name of caste-based survey. The central government had argued in the Karnataka High Court that this is a census being done under the guise of the survey and it is interfered with its jurisdiction.

The bench of Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Joshi, while hearing several petitions questioning the validity of the survey, gave an interim order not to stop. However, the court directed the State Backward Classes Commission to maintain the confidentiality of the data collected and ensure voluntary participation.

The Karnataka High Court said in its order, ‘We do not find it right to stop the survey released. However, the data collected in the survey should be kept confidential. He should not be disclosed to any person. The Backward Classes Commission will have to ensure that the information is completely safe and kept confidential.

The court has asked the Backward Classes Commission to issue a notification, which has been clarified that participation is voluntary. The court said that the calculations will have to inform the citizens in the beginning that they are not obliged to give information.

The order states, “If a person refuses to participate, the calculator will not try to convince him or pressurize him.” The petitions argued that this process is primarily a census and a violation of privacy. Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty, who appeared on behalf of the state, assured the court that there is adequate security measures and he offered to submit an affidavit on the matter.

On behalf of the state government, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared and Senior Advocate Ravi Verma Kumar advocated for the Backward Classes Commission. The court allowed all the parties to present additional written arguments in the coming weeks. The court has fixed December 2 for the next hearing on the matter.

The petitioners include KN Subba Reddy, members of the State Vokkaliga Union, Vokkaliga community such as former Chairman of Bangalore Advocates Association, members of the Lingayat community and Akhil Karnataka Brahmin Mahasabha.

Karnataka caste survey: An important report related to caste census in Karnataka has been submitted to the state government. In this report, it has been recommended to increase the percentage of reservation to social and economically backward classes (OBCs) in the state from 32% to 51%. This report was placed in front of the Karnataka cabinet led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Government sources gave this information on Saturday.

According to sources, the socio-economic and educational survey (caste census) also highlights that the population of backward castes is 70 percent. The report suggested that 51 percent reservation should be given to backward communities in educational institutions of the state. Sources said that it has been given the example of Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand, which are providing 69 and 77 percent reservation respectively according to the population of backward classes. Sources said that the total population of other backward castes (OBCs) is 4,16,30,153.

Whose population is the most populous?

Citing the report, sources claimed that the population of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is 1,09,29,347 and 42,81,289 respectively. The population of backward classes is according to categories as follows:

• 1A class: 34.96 lakhs
• 1B class: 73.92 lakhs
• 2A class: 77.78 lakhs
• 2B class: 75.25 lakhs
• 3A class: 72.99 lakhs
• 3B class: 1.54 crores

The total population of the OBC community has been stated to be 4.16 crore, including all these categories. Apart from this, the report shows the population of Scheduled Castes (SC) 1.09 crore and the population of Scheduled Tribes (ST) 42.81 lakhs. In this caste census survey, information of a total of 5.98 crore people was collected.

Report of caste census is being opposed

Controversy has arisen over the caste census report of Karnataka. The two major communities of the state, Vokkaliga and Lingayat, objected to this report, terming it unscientific and biased. These communities have demanded from the government that this report should be dismissed and a new survey should be conducted.

This report was submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah by the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission on 29 February. The Chairman of the Commission K.K. This report, prepared under the leadership of Jayaprakash Hegde, is based on the data collected in the entire state in 2014-15.

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