Litigant's Caste/ Religion Not To Be Mentioned In Court Filings: Gauhati High Court

The Gauhati High Court on January 30, 2024 issued a notification with immediate effect by which it directed that the caste/religion of a litigant will no longer be required to be mentioned in the memo of parties in any petition/suit/proceeding filed before the Gauhati High Court or the courts under its jurisdiction.

This move by the Gauhati High Court came after the order dated January 10, 2024 passed by the Supreme Court in Transfer Petition (Civil) No. 1957/2023 in which the Supreme Court directed that all courts across the country to stop the practice of mentioning the caste and religion of litigants in petitions and suits.

“The existing Filing Form in respect of the Principal Seat and the Outlying Benches of the Gauhati High Court stands modified accordingly and is to be used hereafter at the time of filing of fresh cases. The modified Filing Form is enclosed with this Notification,” the Gauhati High Court notification read.

The notification further states that the Presiding Officers of all other Courts/Tribunals under the jurisdiction of Gauhati High Court are directed to make the necessary modifications in the Filing Forms of their respective Courts/Tribunals and the modified Form be used thereafter at the time of filing of fresh cases.

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