Justice Nagamohan said they would get the survey report by the end of May 2025, after which they will analyse the data and proceed with classification.
Survey will help in scientific classification of SCs in Karnataka: Justice Nagamohan Das
He said even if someone gives fake documents, they will not automatically get Scheduled Caste status, but will have to go through the regular process to get a certificate
In this exclusive interview with The Federal, Justice Nagamohan Das details the progress of Karnataka’s internal reservation survey and also warns about disqualification in case false data is registered.
How is the caste identity of households being verified during the survey?
When we go to a house, we first enquire whether they are Scheduled Caste (SC) or non-SC. Some people may not like to identify themselves as Scheduled Caste, so they’re a little hesitant to come forward and provide the details.
Even if anybody gives fake documents or false information, they will not get the status of Scheduled Caste, nor will they receive a certificate automatically. Our survey is purely focussed on the Scheduled Castes of Karnataka.
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By the end of this month, May 2025, we expect to complete the survey and receive the full report.
When did the survey begin, and how much progress has been made?
The original survey commenced on May 5, and it is currently in progress. As of now, we’ve achieved 75 per cent progress. We are hopeful that with the extended period, we’ll reach 100 per cent completion.
What challenges did the team face during the survey?
The biggest challenges were enlisting and training the enumerators and assigning their duties. For the first time in India, we have used a mobile app for a survey like this.
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Initially, we encountered technical problems, but our technical team worked day and night to resolve them. Now, the process is running smoothly. We have taken care of every possible situation.
What are the key eligibility checks before a household is surveyed?
We again ask whether they are SC or non-SC. Only if they say they are SC, will we proceed to survey that household.
The second major criterion is whether they are residents of Karnataka. We ask them to provide proof of that.
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We also ask which sub-class they belong to, followed by questions on education, employment, political representation, income, profession, land, and housing.
How is the data being validated during collection?
We take a photograph of the head of the family providing the information. After recording their details, we read back the information. If they confirm it, we take their acknowledgement.
Why do you think some people are still hesitant to identify as Scheduled Caste?
Maybe because of various reasons, some people are hesitant to come out and identify themselves as Scheduled Caste.
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But I appeal to them - if they give us accurate information, it will help in arriving at a more scientific classification of Scheduled Castes in Karnataka.
Has the central government shown interest in the state’s survey?
Yes, the Government of India, having seen the work we are doing, asked us to furnish certain details. We have provided those.
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Again, I want to clarify - even if someone gives fake documents or false information, they will not automatically get SC status. They must go through the regular procedure to obtain an SC certificate from the concerned authorities. Just participating in the survey does not entitle anyone to be certified as SC.
What about the debate around reservation for converts?
The question of whether a convert is entitled to reservation benefits by taking an SC certificate is already under consideration by the Government of India. It has been referred to a commission headed by former Chief Justice of India, Justice KG Balakrishnan.
He is currently working on it. That is very important.
What happens after the survey report is ready?
We are at the fag end of our survey. By the end of May 2025, we will get the survey report. We will then analyse the data and proceed with classification.
Also Read: SC status for converts: Commission's tenure extended till Oct 2025
Without any further delay, the commission will submit the final report to the government. There is no question of any clash between our report and earlier reports. Our focus is purely on the Scheduled Castes in Karnataka.
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