PMK expresses shock over SC ruling against caste census

PMK, an ally of NDA, today said the Supreme Court's ruling against caste-wise census was "shocking" and disagreed with the Centre's stand that such an exercise was not required.
"The verdict is shocking as it came at a time when leaders of several political parties were urging for a caste-wise census across the country to fully implement social justice," PMK founder leader Dr S Ramadoss said in a statement here.
He was reacting to today's apex court ruling which set aside the Madras High Court's 2010 order directing the Centre to conduct caste-wise census in the country, terming it "as a colossal transgression of power of judicial review".

Pointing out that a caste-wise census was held only in 1931, he recalled his long time demand and agitations for such a census to ensure that reservation benefits were given based on the population of various castes.
He also said the view of the Centre on the issue was unacceptable. The Centre had held that a separate caste based census was not needed as census of socio-economic-caste was being done.
He urged the Centre to change its stance and go for the census by making suitable amendments to census law or by bringing in a fresh legislation.