Lucknow — Acting on the Allahabad High Court’s directive, the Uttar Pradesh government on Monday announced a complete ban on caste-based references in police records and at public places to curb caste discrimination across the state.
Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar issued an order stating that caste will no longer be mentioned in First Information Reports (FIRs), arrest memos, or any other police documents. Instead, parental names will be used for identification.
The order also instructed that caste-based slogans, symbols, and references displayed on police stations, vehicles, and signboards must be removed immediately. Additionally, caste-based rallies have been prohibited, with police directed to monitor social media platforms to prevent violations.
However, the government clarified that cases filed under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act will remain exempt, as caste identification is a legal requirement in such cases. To ensure compliance, amendments will be made to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and police manuals.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a Janta Darshan in Gorakhpur, where he heard public grievances and extended greetings on the occasion of Shardiya Navratri. He also shared wishes on X, saying, “May Mother bless everyone’s life with happiness, health, and prosperity. Jai Mata Ki!”
Earlier, on September 21, Adityanath said that the state government has engaged 300 intellectuals, including retired bureaucrats and vice-chancellors, to frame a roadmap for “Developed India–Developed Uttar Pradesh 2047.” These experts will visit academic institutions to gather inputs from citizens on development goals for the future.