[BREAKING] Rajasthan HC Directs Not To Mention Caste Of Persons In Any Judicial Or Administrative Judicial Matter

Following the controversy over the mention of caste name in a judicial order last week, the Rajasthan High Court issued a notification on Monday that caste of any person, including accused, should not be incorporated in any judicial or administrative matter.

The notification said that such mention of caste is against the "spirit of constitution" and contrary to a 2018 direction of HC.

"Therefore, it is enjoined upon all concerned to ensure that the caste of any person including the accused is not incorporated in any judicial or administrative matter", stated the order issued by the Registrar General.

An order passed by the HC last week adjourning the hearing on a bail application had attracted public attention as the counsel in that case had appeared before the bench in "inappropriate" attire, via video conferencing.

That order had mentioned the caste of the applicant in the cause title, which attracted widespread criticism.

In this backdrop, one advocate wrote a letter to the Chief Justice of India raising concerns over the "regressive practice" of mentioning Caste of a party in the cause title/ affidavits/ memo of parties in court filings.

The letter penned by Advocate Pai Amit submitted that mention of the caste of a party in the cause title undoes the salient principle of equality. "Caste has no place in our system of law and the Constitution," he remarked while urging the CJI to abolish this "disturbing practice".

Click here to download HC notification

Read HC Notification