NRNC column in national Census, what the courts say?
Introductory note
Though it was not new, again it was cropping in the background of Census on the cards at national level, next year. The Indian Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL), a Hyderabad based oganisation of lawyers, urged the Centre to incorporate the column of No Religion, No Caste (NRNC) in the census column so that those who do not wish to get associated with any religion or cast can opt for this column. This will have serious ramification on the society.
Analytical view/ analysis
The Indian Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL) has demanded that NRNC should be there in the census column that so that those who want to opt can do so. The IPAL consists of Surendra Gadling: General Secretary / Secretary (Nagpur-based advocate). Sudha Bharadwaj: Vice-President (Trade unionist and human rights lawyer). Justice Suresh Hosbet: President (Retired Bombay High Court Judge). Chikkudu Prabhakar: Member / activist advocate from Telangana. Balla Ravindranath: Member / activist advocate from Telangana and A. Murugan: Member / activist advocate from Tamil Nadu. All of them are either Left/ Dalit activists.
‘Absence of such an option in official records has resulted in individual being assigned identities they did not claim, particularly in birth registration, school admission and other government processes,’ said a statement issued by IAPL.
Even during the Caste census taken up by the Government of Telangana in 2024, some have approached the High Court to introduce this column stating that not including it is violation of their Constitutional Right. They have quoted- Articles 14 (Equality before law), 19 (Freedom of speech and expression), 21 (Protection of Life and Personal Liberty) and 25 (freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion). Md. Waheed and D.L. Krishna Chand submitted their representation before the court seeking such column in Samagra Intiti Kutumba Survey (Comprehensive Social, Economic, Educational, Employment, Political and Caste – House-to-House Survey).
Based on their arguments, the High Court directed the Government of Telangana to include NRNC in the census column. “A citizen has every right not to follow or profess any religion which is implicit in Article 25 of the Constitution of India,” said the High Court.
Surprisingly, 3.4 percent of the surveyed population opted for this column, which accounted for about 11.96 lakh people. Based on the previous experience, the IAPL has demanded that the same column should be included in the national census as well.
The Telangana High Court on July 20, 2023, has directed the Government to include ‘No Caste, No Religion’ column in Birth and School Certificates.
The Telangana High Court directed the State Government to provide separate columns in both online and offline applications for people who prefer not to mention their caste and religion details while seeking birth certificates and filling of school admissions. Justice K. Lalitha pronounced this order while hearing a petition of Sandepu Saroopa and David Ajjapagu. “The right given to our people to practice and propagate any religion under Article 25 of the Constitution includes the right not to practice any religion as well. Moreover, such a freedom is there under Article 19 as well,” said the judge.
The impact
However, though the intention of survey is aimed at identifying certain sections and implementing the desired reservations to them, whether the survey report was linked to the government systems and those opted for NRNC were disconnected with the reservation systems was not yet clear. As they do not want any religion or caste, they will not enjoy any reservations assured by the constitution. This will offer more scope for those who need reservations as per their caste and religion.
This will also create a new section in the society – NRNC- Finding people integrating with them in social and family circles will become a serious issue leading to identity crisis among the children of that section.
News at a Glance:
IAPL seeks ‘No Caste, No Religion’ option in Census 2027
Telangana HC: Include ‘No Caste, No Religion’ column in survey
No Caste, No Religion Column in birth and school certificates: Telangana High Court
Meet MA Sneha, the Tamil Nadu Lawyer, who became India’s first women to receive ‘no caste, no religion certificate after nine years of struggle