The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has issued a notice to the Directorate of Census Operations Punjab and the Punjab Government over allegations regarding the use of casteist words in an official list prepared for the upcoming census operations.
The commission has sought an explanation from the authorities concerned regarding the inclusion of objectionable caste-indicative words in government documents. In its notice, the NCSC asked officials to clarify why such language was used and what corrective measures have been initiated in response to the matter.
The commission has directed the officers concerned to submit a response within the stipulated timeframe. It has also asked authorities to specify the steps being taken to ensure that these casteist and derogatory expressions are not used in future records of government or census-related documentation.
The commission stated that it has decided to investigate the matter under the powers conferred upon it under Article 338 of the Constitution of India. Authorities concerned have been directed to submit an action taken report within 15 days of receiving the notice.
The NCSC further warned that failure to respond within the stipulated period could lead to the commission exercising powers of a civil court, including issuing summons for personal appearance before the panel.
Notably, the notice was based on a complaint from National Safai Karmachari Commission Vice-Chairperson Hardeep Singh Gill. The Union government’s self-enumeration website for Census 2027 lists offensive and insulting words for the Valmiki community in Punjab, Hardeep Gill told media, citing the use of words like ‘Chura’ and ‘Bhangi in his complaint to the NCSC.
Noting that Census 2027 forms for Punjab list caste slurs as synonyms to the names of Scheduled Caste communities, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes has issued a notice to the Director of Census Operations in Punjab as well as the State government’s Social Justice Department as part of its investigation into the issue.
The notice was based on a complaint from National Safai Karmachari Commission Vice-Chairperson Hardeep Singh Gill. The Union government’s self-enumeration website for Census 2027 lists offensive and insulting words for the Valmiki community in Punjab, Gill told The Hindu, citing the use of words like ‘Chura’ and ‘Bhangi in his complaint to the NCSC.
In fact, Census officials may simply be following the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, notified by the President of India, which repeatedly lists these offensive words as synonyms for the caste name ‘Balmiki’ in the SC lists for Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh. In other States, including Delhi, ‘Bhangi’ is listed by itself as a caste name, despite being considered a slur by many.
Gill said these words are prohibited under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The law says it is a punishable offence to “abuse any member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe by caste name in any place within public view”.
“This is a very serious issue. I have been speaking about it ever since we found this out. Many people of the community went to fill out the self-enumeration website and found that such words are also listed against the names of the Scheduled Castes,” he said.
In its notice dated May 14, the NCSC enclosed Gill’s complaint and said that it has “decided to investigate/inquire” into the issue as per its Constitutional powers. The Commission has asked for an action-taken report in this regard from both the Director of Census Operations and the Punjab government within 15 days.
The NCSC, which functions as a constitutional body under Article 338 and holds powers equivalent to a civil court, took up the matter and directed Punjab to submit a detailed report covering what action, if any, had been initiated.
The Punjab government has not issued any public statement on the matter. If it fails to respond to the commission within the stipulated period, the NCSC has the authority to issue summons requiring officials to appear before it in-person or through a representative.
Notably, the next census, which has been pending since 2021 following repeated delays, is expected to include a separate enumeration of Other Backward Classes for the first time.
The Punjab SC list that surfaced in the controversy contains at least 15 caste groups, with several entries carrying multiple names and regional-language equivalents.
