Supreme Court Denies To Halt Bihar Caste Survey, Centre Seeks Time To Present "Legal Position"

The Supreme Court on Monday (21 August) postponed the hearing on appeals challenging the Bihar caste survey order. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta requested additional time to present the "legal position" on record.

"I would like to present my perspective on the legal position of this matter – not that I am favoring one side over the other. This could have some consequences," the SG conveyed to a bench led by Justice Sanjeev Khanna.

Acceding to the request, the bench, including Justice SVN Bhatti, scheduled the next hearing for 28 August. The bench clarified that it would not stay the Patna High Court order permitting the survey, stating, "We are not halting anything. We are quite clear on this. Unless a clear case is established, we won't issue a stay," Justice Khanna emphasized.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the petitioners, suggested that the state should refrain from any actions in the meantime. Declining to provide specific directions, Justice Khanna noted, "They have already claimed to have made everything public."

Rohatgi emphasized that the state has not yet disclosed the data. In response, Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, representing the state, questioned, "Where does the question of publishing the data arise?"

"If that is the case, then that's acceptable…" Rohatgi responded, adding, "I only wanted that gentleman's assurance." Divan urged the court not to record any statement.