Allahabad, Sept 21: Taking strong exception to police practices, the Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh Home Department and the DGP to frame standard operating procedures prohibiting the disclosure of caste in FIRs, investigations, and other police records, except in cases under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
The Bench of Justice Vinod Diwakar said the justification offered by the DGP for caste references was detached from “the complex realities of Indian society and the demands of professional policing.”
The court also suggested the government amend Central Motor Vehicles Rules to prohibit caste and caste-based slogans on private and public vehicles, directing RTOs and traffic authorities to remove such displays and impose heavy fines.
Further, the state was asked to make stricter provisions under the IT Act to flag and act against caste-glorifying and hate-peddling content on social media.
The directions came during the hearing of a plea by three men arrested for liquor smuggling in Etawah in April 2023. While dismissing their petition, the court took serious note of police mentioning the caste of the complainants, accused, and witnesses in FIRs and investigation records.
