Wed Mar 05 17:57:04 UTC 2025: ## Allahabad High Court Orders UP DGP to Justify Including Caste in FIRs
**Lucknow, March 4** – The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) to submit a personal affidavit explaining the necessity of including caste information in First Information Reports (FIRs). The order, issued by Justice Vinod Diwakar on March 3rd, stems from a plea challenging an FIR filed against Praveen Chetri, accused of liquor smuggling in Etawah district.
The court expressed concern over the inclusion of Chetri’s caste in the FIR, highlighting the Supreme Court’s deprecation of mentioning caste and religion in legal pleadings. Justice Diwakar questioned whether including caste information in FIRs serves any legal purpose or inadvertently perpetuates caste-based discrimination, contradicting constitutional values and judicial precedents aimed at social justice.
The DGP’s affidavit must address the relevance of mentioning an accused’s caste, particularly in a society where social divisions influence law enforcement and public perception. The court noted that the FIR in question, related to an alleged liquor smuggling operation involving multiple arrests, included the caste of all accused individuals.
The matter has been adjourned until March 12th, pending the DGP’s response.
First Piper 