The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has issued notices to the four major political parties in Uttar Pradesh, requesting their response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a complete ban on caste-based rallies. Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Jaspreet Singh passed the order concerning an older PIL filed by local lawyer Motilal Yadav.
Originally filed in 2013, the petitioner sought a ban on caste-based rallies in Uttar Pradesh. Following a hearing on July 11 of that year, the bench had implemented an interim ban on organizing such rallies in the state. However, it was noted on Monday that notices had not been properly served to the political parties involved.
In light of this, the bench issued fresh notices to ensure the political parties have the opportunity to respond. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India has submitted a response, although a copy of it could not be located in the records, prompting the bench to request a new copy.
In its 2013 order, the bench criticized caste-based rallies, stating that they are contrary to public interest and undermine the rule of law and fundamental rights of citizens. It highlighted the detrimental impact of politicizing the caste system, leading to social divisions and disruptions in societal cohesion.
The PIL highlights the plight of caste minorities in the country, asserting that they have been marginalized due to the anti-democratic activities of political parties aimed at garnering votes from majority groups. Despite constitutional protections, the petitioner argued, caste minorities feel disenfranchised and relegated to second-class citizenship within their own country.
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