The court asserts rallies harm democracy and social harmony, seek responses from Yogi government, central government, and major political parties
LUCKNOW – The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has once again turned its attention to the issue of caste-based political rallies, questioning how far its earlier order of 11 July 2013 has actually been implemented in Uttar Pradesh. The bench, comprising Justices Rajan Roy and Manjeev Shukla, expressed concern over the state government’s inaction and the silence of political parties, warning that the practice of mobilising people on caste lines is a direct threat to democracy.
During the latest hearing, the bench asked the Yogi Adityanath government to provide details of measures it has taken to enforce the 2013 ban. The court also asked political parties — including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) — to clarify their positions in the matter.
So far, no party has filed its response. The judges strongly criticised this behaviour. “If the political parties concerned fail to respond in the next hearing, the court will be forced to take unilateral action,” the bench observed.
The court also issued a notice to the central government, noting that caste-based mobilisation is not only a state-level issue but one with implications for national politics as well.
The controversy stems from a 2013 interim order of the Allahabad High Court, which had explicitly banned caste-based political rallies. At that time, the court held that such gatherings divide citizens, encourage discrimination, and undermine constitutional values of equality and justice.
“In a democratic society, creating divisions in the name of caste is nothing short of weakening the very foundations of democracy,” the 2013 order had said.
Yet, over the past decade, reports of such rallies being held by different parties have continued to surface. The petitioner, Lucknow-based lawyer Motilal Yadav, argued that successive governments have ignored the court’s order. “Political parties continue to organise caste rallies to strengthen their vote banks. This practice goes against the court’s ruling and against the Constitution,” media reports quoted Yadav as saying on Wednesday.
In its latest hearing, the court directed the petitioner to compile and present a record of caste-based rallies held in the state over the last ten years. This data, the judges said, would help in assessing the extent of non-compliance.
The bench also asked the state government to explain: What steps it has taken since 2013 to stop such rallies. How many rallies were stopped by the administration. In cases where such rallies were allowed, who authorised them and why.
The judges made it clear that if the state government is found guilty of failing to enforce the order, strict action will follow against those responsible.
Petitioner Motilal Yadav has maintained that the failure to check caste politics is harming the social fabric of Uttar Pradesh. “These rallies are being used only to mobilise voters. They deepen inequality and mistrust among people. The court must step in firmly,” he said.
He also reminded that the Constitution guarantees equality and prohibits discrimination. “When leaders gather people only on the basis of caste, they are not serving democracy. They are breaking it,” Yadav argued.
The bench stressed that caste-based politics continues to be a sensitive issue in India, with serious implications for social justice. The court underlined that dividing people on caste lines not only fuels inequality but also weakens the democratic process itself.
Legal experts say the case could have wider consequences. Advocate R Ahmad, a senior lawyer in Lucknow, noted, “If the high court decides to act firmly this time, it could set a precedent for other states where caste mobilisation is common.”
The silence of the major political parties has also drawn attention. None of the four — BJP, Congress, SP or BSP — has presented its stance despite notices. Observers say this reluctance reflects how deeply caste politics is tied to electoral strategies.
A local political analyst, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “No party wants to admit openly that they depend on caste rallies. But everyone knows such mobilisation has been a feature of elections for decades.”
The court has fixed the second week of October for the next hearing. By then, it has demanded detailed responses from the Uttar Pradesh government, the central government, and political parties.
The bench has warned that the matter will not be taken lightly. “This is not just about one state. This is about protecting the principles of equality and democracy across the nation,” the judges said.
Until then, the question remains: has the 2013 ban on caste-based political rallies been respected, or has it simply remained on paper?
