Allahabad High Court put a Ban on Caste-based Rallies in UP

The Allahabad high court on 10 July 2013 put a stay on caste-based rallies throughout Uttar Pradesh. It also issued notices to central and state governments, the Election Commission and four major political parties. The Lucknow bench of the court including Justices Uma Nath Singh and Mahendra Dayal gave the ruling while responding to a PIL.

The court gave the ruling in the backdrop of the BSP recently organising Brahman Bhaichara Sammelan in 40 districts of the state. SP also had organised a similar event in Lucknow.

The court also issued notices to other political parties such as Congress and BJP. The PIL submitted that there was an increase of caste-based political rallies in the state.  PIL stated that political parties were organising caste-based rallies in the name of different castes such as Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaishya etc. These rallies can cause damage to social unity and harmony. They are dividing the society which was against the spirit of the Constitution.