Lucknow, September 19- In a packed courtroom on Thursday, Justice Vinod Diwakar of the Allahabad High Court delivered a fiery ruling that left many lawyers quietly nodding in agreement. “Reverence for the Constitution, not lineage, is the highest form of patriotism,” the judge declared, drawing a sharp line between national pride and caste pride. The case, which began as a plea to quash a liquor-smuggling FIR, turned into a broader examination of how caste continues to seep into public life in Uttar Pradesh.
Background
The matter came up under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, usually a routine request to halt criminal proceedings. But what caught the judge’s eye was the repeated mention of the accused’s caste in the FIR and seizure memo. Police officials tried to justify the practice as a way to prevent confusion in identifying suspects. Justice Diwakar wasn’t convinced. “In the age of Aadhaar, fingerprints and mobile numbers, this is an outdated excuse,” he remarked.
Court’s Observations
Throughout the hearing, the bench voiced deep concern over what it called “identity profiling.” Justice Diwakar cited B.R. Ambedkar’s warning that caste breeds “jealousy and antipathy,” and went further: “Caste glorification is, in effect, anti-national,” he said, his words echoing across the gallery. The judge criticized police formats that still demand caste details, calling the Director General of Police’s defence a “legal fallacy.”
The order also took aim at social trends. The court noted how Instagram reels and YouTube shorts often “romanticize caste aggression and rural masculinity,” turning age-old hierarchies into viral entertainment. “Such digital performances weaponise tradition in a postmodern format,” the bench observed, adding that social media has become an “echo chamber for hyper-masculine caste identity.”
Decision
In a sweeping directive, the court ordered the Uttar Pradesh government to delete caste columns from FIRs, recovery memos, arrest and surrender papers, and even signboards in police stations. It instructed officials to remove caste slogans from public and private vehicles by amending Motor Vehicle Rules and to crack down on caste-based content online using the IT Rules, 2021. The Chief Secretary must place the order before the Chief Minister, and copies will go to the Union Home Ministry, the Road Transport Ministry, the IT Ministry and the Press Council of India.
While dismissing the petitioner’s plea to quash the liquor-smuggling case- finding a prima facie offence- the court made it clear that its larger purpose was to “invoke constitutional morality and awaken a sense of justice.” Justice Diwakar concluded, “Pride in ancestry cannot substitute the values of equality and fraternity enshrined in our Constitution.” With that, the gavel came down, leaving the state with a list of reforms and a stern reminder that the dignity of the nation lies beyond caste.
Case Title: XXX – Petition under Section 482 CrPC seeking quashing of liquor-smuggling FIR
Date of Judgment: 19 September 2025