In affidavit, Bihar govt backs caste survey before SC
IN A detailed affidavit, the Bihar government defended the executive decision and said it collected data through the survey on socio-economic conditions to help create better government policies for targeted intervention.
Defending the caste survey, the Bihar government has told the Supreme Court that castebased census was done to ascertain socio-economic conditions to help create better government policies for disadvantaged groups.
In a detailed affidavit, the Bihar government defended the executive decision and said it collected data through the survey on socio-economic conditions to help create better government policies for targeted intervention.
Backing the caste survey conducted last year, the Bihar government stressed that it complied with constitutional mandates to achieve social equality.
"The caste survey was carried out under the constitutional mandates and aimed to achieve equality enshrined under the Constitution. The state had declared its aim and object for the survey and has now taken steps to achieve the same on the basis of facts appearing in the survey report," the state government said in its affidavit.
Bihar government also gave an overview of the steps taken in pursuance of the findings of the survey report, including quota benefits, housing scheme, employment generation support, small entrepreneur scheme and educational support.
“The copy of the report on data released under the caste-based survey has already been sent to all the departments of the state government for framing plans and making schemes for the welfare of the people of the state. Different departments are working to provide the required welfare benefits to the people of Bihar," the affidavit said.
The affidavit came in response to a clutch of pleas against the decision of the Patna High Court that upheld the Bihar government's decision to undertake caste-based survey.