Karunanidhi backs caste-based census, says 'its important to ensure social justice'

Chennai, Nov 8: A day after Supreme Court set aside a Madras High Court order directing the Centre to conduct caste-based census, DMK president M Karunanidhi on Saturday urged the Union Government to factor in the necessity of holding such an exercise.

"Though the Supreme Court has given the order based on present legal provisions, caste-based census is very important to implement social justice," he said in a statement here.

Karunanidhi said the court had set aside the order after Centre made its submission saying it was its prerogative to conduct caste-based census.

"It is the desire of all those concerned about social justice that Centre, factoring in the necessity of caste-based census, should come forward by itself and implement it (the exercise)," he said.

The apex Court had set aside the Madras High Court order directing the Centre to conduct caste-wise census in the country, terming it "as a colossal transgression of power of judicial review".

It had said that while passing the order in 2010, the High Court had travelled beyond the matter in dispute before it which is legally impermissible.

PTI