The Yogi Adityanath-led govt. ordered all Secretaries, DMs and police chiefs to ensure strict monitoring of social media messages. Photo: Special Arrangement
Acting on a recent directive by the Allahabad High Court seeking a clampdown on caste glorification, the Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday (September 21, 2025) issued a notification prohibiting caste-based political rallies, mention of the caste of accused persons in police stations, and on vehicles, signboards, etc.
The only exemption is for crimes committed under the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
A single-judge Bench of Justice Vinod Diwaker of the High Court had on September 16 directed the State government to curb caste glorification.
Opposition parties in the State on Monday (September 22, 2025) accused the government of hypocrisy, alleging that the ruling BJP itself had organised caste rallies and conferences in the past.
In his order, officiating Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar said rallies organised for political purposes promote caste conflict in society, which are contrary to “public order” and “national unity”. “Such rallies will be banned in the State of Uttar Pradesh,” stated the notification, enjoining upon all Secretaries, District Magistrates, and police chiefs to ensure strict monitoring of social media messages that glorify or condemn any caste.
“Strict action should be taken against those who spread caste hatred or incite caste sentiments through social media.”
No caste signboards
Vehicles displaying caste names or slogans/stickers will be also challaned under relevant sections of the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Chief Secretary also ordered signboards glorifying a particular caste in public places or declaring geographical areas as caste-based areas or estates to be removed.
Mr. Kumar’s order instructed the police to follow up with the National Crime Records Bureau to delete the field for entering the caste of the accused from the formats used on the CCTNS portal and leave it blank for the time being. There will be no mention of the caste of accused in case files at police stations.
Samajwadi Party spokesperson Rajkumar Bhati alleged that the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government was afraid of the political awareness of the Gurjar community.
“Before the 2024 Lok Sabha election, meetings of various castes were held continuously for a month at the BJP’s Lucknow office. The BJP also put up a hoarding in Lucknow announcing the number of Ministers from each caste. Today, when we announced a massive Gurjar rally, how did the government suddenly remember that rallies should not be held in the name of castes?” he said.
The Congress described the decision as dangerous and a “bid to silence marginalised voices”.
Published – September 23, 2025 01:46 am IST
