The Supreme Court has directed the Union Government and the Census Operations Directorate to review the mechanism for caste enumeration in the upcoming 2027 census, suggesting that a mere self-declaration of caste may not be sufficient. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi acknowledged the concerns raised by a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding the reliability of data collected through self-declaration without a verifiable mechanism.

The PIL, filed by Aakash Goel, did not oppose the caste census itself but argued against relying solely on self-declaration for caste enumeration. The petitioner's counsel emphasized that caste data would have long-lasting implications and that collecting such data without proper verification could be hazardous. They also pointed out that a notification had been issued permitting self-declaration alone. The counsel also highlighted the significant expenditure of over ₹13,500 crore for the caste census, emphasizing the need for transparency in methodology to avoid adversely impacting policy decisions based on the data.

The Supreme Court bench agreed in principle with the argument that relying solely on self-declaration could undermine the accuracy of the census. The Court stated that nothing should be included or excluded based upon a certificate, the genuineness of which might be either doubtful or unverified. While acknowledging the relevance of the issue, the Court refrained from a judicial consideration, noting that the matter should be addressed by the authorities under the Census Act 1958. Justice Joymalya Bagchi noted that the manner in which the census is conducted is a matter for the State to decide and asked whether any representation had been made to the authorities.

The 2027 census is set to be the first comprehensive caste enumeration since 1931 and is planned to be fully digital. The Supreme Court's intervention underscores the importance of ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the data collected, given its potential impact on welfare policies and reservations. The court has directed the government to consider a verifiable mechanism for caste enumeration instead of just self-declaration. Senior Advocate Mukta Gupta argued that the census data should be based on verifiable material because this data will be used for welfare policies and reservations for years to come.

In light of the Supreme Court's direction, the Union Government and the Census Operations Directorate are expected to deliberate on incorporating a robust verification process in the 2027 census. This could involve establishing guidelines, questionnaires, and a transparent methodology to ensure the accuracy and credibility of the caste data collected.