Centre's decision on caste census was taken keeping Bihar polls in mind: CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru, May 1 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said the Centre decided to conduct caste census keeping Bihar assembly elections in mind.
He said that Centre’s move on caste census was also due to the pressure built by the Congress, especially its former president Rahul Gandhi.
“The hurry in which the BJP led Centre took the decision regarding caste census on Wednesday made me believe that it was done in view of Bihar assembly elections,” Siddaramaiah said addressing a press conference.
The Chief Minister insisted that the 50 per cent ceiling on reservation should be relaxed.
There should be an analysis of the socio-economic and education status of the SC/ST, OBC and minorities and they should be given reservation accordingly, he insisted.
According to him, the verdict mandating 50 per cent ceiling was given in 1992 in the Indra Sawhney case. The division bench of Supreme Court while hearing about the Mandal Commission introduced ceiling on reservation, he explained.
“There were no scientific or constitutional reasons behind the ceiling on reservation but the SC put 50 per cent ceiling,” Siddaramaiah said.
The chief minister said the state government cannot revise the ceiling on the reservation because it is the Centre’s domain. The state government can only recommend to the Centre, he added.
When asked about the fate of the caste census report prepared by the Karnataka government, which was presented before the state cabinet, Siddaramaiah said, “The remaining portion of the report apart from caste census, such as social and educational survey recommendations will be implemented.”
To a question whether he would implement the social and educational survey report even after the Centre’s caste survey report is out, the Chief Minister said the survey report prepared by the Backward Class Commission is still at the discussion level in the government.
“We will discuss it in the cabinet and get the opinions of our ministers. Most likely, the cabinet meeting will be convened on May 9,” he added.
The Chief Minister underlined that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been insisting that 50 per cent ceiling should be removed and reservation should be provided based on the population of the backward communities.
“Due to Gandhi’s insistence, the Congress government in Karnataka promised removing the 50 pre cent ceiling on reservation in its election manifesto. Due to the continuous pressure, the Centre agreed for caste census,” Siddaramaiah said.
He also said that the All India Congress Committee convention in Ahmedabad passed a resolution to this effect on April 9.
The Chief Minister further said that Rahul Gandhi has also sought to know the date when the enumeration process would start in the country.
“The caste census should not be like women’s reservation bill. Besides census and caste census, there should be enumeration of socio-economic and educational survey,” he added.
In a major decision, the Centre on Wednesday announced that caste enumeration will be included in the forthcoming census exercise in a 'transparent' manner.
Opposition parties, including the Congress, have been demanding a nationwide caste census, making it a major election issue, and some states like Bihar, Telangana and Karnataka have conducted such surveys.
Karnataka carried out a 'social and educational survey' covering 94 per cent of the state's population. After nine years of the exercise since 2015, the then Backward Class Commission Chairperson Jayaprakash Hegde submitted the report to the chief minister in February 2024.
Amid internal differences over the caste census report, a special meeting of the state cabinet that met on April 17, 2025 to discuss it, ended inconclusive, without any major decision.
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Ordinance issued to increase number of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38
New Delhi (PTI): The government has promulgated an ordinance to increase the strength of the Supreme Court from the present 34 judges to 38, including the Chief Justice of India.
The law ministry notified the ordinance on Saturday, which amended the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, to increase the sanctioned strength of the top court.
So far, the sanctioned strength of the top court was 34, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI). Now, the number of judges has been increased by four, taking the sanctioned strength to 38.
The top court will now have 37 judges, other than the CJI.
With the apex court having two vacancies at present, and the ordinance coming into force immediately, the Supreme Court Collegium will now have to recommend six names for appointment as judges in the top court.
A bill will be brought in the Monsoon Session of Parliament to convert the ordinance – an executive order – into a law passed by Parliament.
The Union Cabinet had cleared a draft bill on May 5 to increase the number of apex court judges.
The strength of the Supreme Court was last increased from 30 to 33 (excluding the CJI) in 2019.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, as originally enacted in 1956, put the maximum number of judges (excluding the CJI) at 10.
This number was increased to 13 by the Supreme Court (Number of Judges), Amendment Act, 1960, and to 17 by another amendment to the law.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 1986, augmented the strength of judges from 17 to 25, excluding the CJI.
A fresh amendment in 2009 further increased the strength from 25 to 30.
Article 124(3) of the Constitution lists the qualifications required to become a Supreme Court judge.
An Indian citizen who has either served as a high court judge for at least five years, or as an advocate for 10 years, or is a distinguished jurist, can be appointed to the top court.
The strength of the Supreme Court is increased based on the recommendations of the CJI, who writes to the Union law minister. After consulting the finance ministry, the Department of Justice under the law ministry moves the Cabinet with a draft bill.
