Karnataka Social and Educational Survey: High Court allows survey but makes participation voluntary, data confidential

The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday refused to interdict the Social and Educational Survey in the state but imposed conditions, including that data collection shall be strictly voluntary and data collected shall be kept confidential.

The court was hearing a batch of petitions filed by Rajya Vokkaliga Sangha, members of Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Lingayata Mahasabha and others challenging the caste-based survey to review socio economic conditions. The petitions had sought an interim stay on the enumeration process, currently underway across the state.

“We do not find it apposite to interdict the ongoing survey. However, we state that data collected shall not be disclosed to any person. The state commission shall ensure that data is fully protected and is kept confidential. We further direct the commission to issue public notification that participation in the survey is voluntary and no person is obligated to disclose any information disclosed is voluntary. This information would necessarily have to be informed at threshold stage by enumerators,” a division bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C M Joshi said.

A division bench headed by the Chief Justice directed the Backward Classes Commission to file an affidavit within one working day, clearly disclosing the steps taken ensuring that the data collected is kept confidential and will not be accessed by any person other than the commission.

The court also directed the commission to issue a public notification, stating that participation in the survey is voluntary and no person is obligated to disclose any information.