The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking exclusion of caste enumeration from the forthcoming population census exercise, observing that the issue squarely falls within the domain of government policy.

The petitioner-in-person contended that caste-based data collection could potentially be misused by agencies and may lead to social and political complications.

A Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Pancholi, however, observed during the hearing that decisions regarding whether the census should include caste-based enumeration are matters of executive policy. The Court further remarked that the government may legitimately require such data to determine the extent and composition of backward classes and other social groups.

Holding that no ground for judicial interference was made out, the Bench dismissed the petition, observing that the issue pertains to policy considerations beyond the scope of judicial review in the present case.