High Court of Karnataka

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The High Court of Karnataka has said that it will hear on September 23 the arguments on whether there is a need to stay the Socio-Economic and Educational Survey being conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes.When the petitions questioning the legality of the survey came up for hearing on September 22, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Joshi initially indicated that it would take up the petitions for hearing when the court resumes after Dasara vacations.However, advocates appearing for the petitioners pointed out they have not only challenged power of the State Government or the Commission to conduct such an exercise but have questioned the very right of the State authorities in collection of data as the survey proposes to geo-tag the residents linking it with their Aadhaar, in violation of their right to privacy and contrary to provisions of the Aadhaar (Targetted deliver of financial and other subsidies, benefits and services) Act, 2016.Senior Advocate Prabhuling K. Navadgi, appearing for some of the petitioners, pointed out to the court that the process of data collection would be completed by October 6, before courts reopen after the Dasara vacation.Following this, the bench asked the government advocate whether the government could defer the collection of data till the petitions are adjudicated finally after Dasara vacation for the courts.Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the State Government, said that the present exercise is only to update the data collected during the earlier survey, which was not stayed by the court in earlier petitions, and data collection can be reversed if the court finally sets aside the survey.Questioning how the data collection can be reversed, the bench said that it will hear arguments on the plea for staying the process of collection of data in the afternoon session on September 23.The petitions were filed by Rajya Vokkaliga Sangha, Akhila Karnataka Brahmana Mahasabha, Uday Shankar B.R. and eight other members of the Akhila Karnataka Veerashaiva-Lingyata Mahasabha of Karnataka, advocate K.N. Subba Reddy, and three others from the Vokkaliga community, and others. Published - September 22, 2025 04:12 pm IST