LucknowSeptember 22, 2025 11:26 AM IST First published on: Sep 22, 2025 at 11:22 AM ISTThe Uttar Pradesh government has prohibited caste-based political rallies saying they were to “public order” and “national unity” – a step that would have long-term political implications given then assembly election two years away.Citing a September 16 Allahabad High Court order, the order, issued late Sunday by officiating Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar to all the district magistrates, civil servants and heads of police across the state and districts, prohibits “caste-based markings in police records as well as public display of caste-based signs” and aims “to eliminate caste-based discrimination” in the society.AdvertisementNot only this, the 10-point direction also includes orders to issue challans to vehicles bearing caste names, slogans and stickers under relevant sections of the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.The order is likely to have an impact on both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party as well as the Opposition, especially since caste-based meetings become more frequent in the run-up to the election. With assembly elections due in 2027, parties have already started their caste-based reach outs.The order says officials are aware of the policy of the Government for a system that is inclusive and consistent with constitutional values and directs authorities to take effective action against those who incite conflict through “caste-based displays and protests”.AdvertisementThe order cites a recent direction by Allahabad High Court while hearing a petition. In its order, the high court directed the state’s home department and DGP to frame and implement standard operating procedures by amending police manuals/regulation, if necessary, to prohibit caste disclosure in all police documents, barring cases lodged under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.The court also said that the justification offered by the DGP was detached from “the complex realities of Indian society and the demands of professional policing”.