Is state ready to drop caste names from schools, Madras HC asks TN govt
The observation was made while a petition moved by South Indian Senguntha Mahajana Sangam seeking to direct the State not to intervene in their administration
Madras High Court (File)
CHENNAI: The time has come to reject caste names and the State government should straight away attack castes rather than beating around the bush, opined the Madras High Court, and asked if the government was ready to drop caste names from all schools, colleges and institutions to evolve a casteless society.
Expressing his dissatisfaction over even schools and colleges run by the government also having caste names, Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy said, "Caste transcends religion; even rationalists and atheists are carrying that baggage by having caste names in their association."
The observation was made during the hearing on a petition moved by South Indian Senguntha Mahajana Sangam, seeking to direct the State not to intervene in their administration.
The judge wondered how an association could have a bylaws stating that its main objective is to develop a particular community. He also asked how the outfit can perpetuate caste by having caste name and be registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act or Societies Registration Act.
On February 2, the judge had directed the State to clarify its stand in an affidavit. Advocate General (AG) PS Raman submitted that a similar matter was dealt by the Madurai Bench, which issued a direction to the Registration Department to identify societies named after castes and instruct them to amend their memorandum and bylaws to ensure that their objective was not to serve the welfare of only particular castes.
The State has issued a circular to such societies or associations on November 10, 2024, to amend their bye-laws, Raman added. The judge then observed that no association seems to have amended bye-laws, and said the licence of such outfits should be struck down.
Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy then noted that some State-run education institutions also had caste names. When the AG said it could be because they are named after the person who donated funds to set them up, the judge said in such cases, the donors name without caste should be used.
The court then asked the State to file an affidavit if it had any plans to drop caste names from schools, colleges and other government institutions, and posted the matter to February 25.
