"Calculated Move to Divide Society," Supreme Court on PIL To Include Denotified Tribes in Census

While Chief Justice of India Surya Kant raised questions behind the intent of the petition, the Supreme Court refused a plea seeking directions to include the Denotified Nomadic Tribes (DNTs) as a distinct category in the upcoming national Census.

The bench also comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi disposed of the petition, observing that such classifications fell within the domain of government policy and were “not justiciable” by the court.

The PIL sought a mandate for the census commissioner to ensure that members of denotified nomadic tribes are specifically identified during the population enumeration of the Census.

Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for the petitioner, said the plea was not seeking Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, but rather statistical visibility.

"We are a unique country. Instead of making a classless society, we are here to make more classes now," CJI Kant responded.

Raising concerns over the intent behind the plea, CJI added, "These are very calculated moves…not very innocuous things before us. This plea is a very deep-rooted move to divide the society. These are not coming from India and if we hold an inquiry, we will see where it is all coming from".

It was further noted that the petitioner had submitted a representation to the authorities only a month prior to approaching the court. "In our considered opinion, classification or sub-classification during the enumeration process essentially falls in the policy domain, for which a decision has to be taken by the competent authority. It is not a justiciable issue," the bench noted.

While refusing to entertain the PIL, the bench disposed it by granting the petitioners the liberty to pursue their grievances before the appropriate government authorities.

Case Title: DAKXINKUMAR BAJRANGE Vs UNION OF INDIA

Bench: CJI Kant and Justice Bagchi

Hearing Date: March 24, 2026