Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murty opt out of Karnataka caste survey; Court says participation is voluntary

New Delhi (India) October 16: N Narayana Murthy founder of Infosys and his wife philanthropist Sudha Murty have opted out from the Social and Educational Survey that is being conducted by Karnataka Backward Classes Commission. They would not attend a government event for an underprivileged group because they are not members of the underprivileged.

Infosys Founders File Self-Declaration to Opt Out

Sudha Murty has also reportedly signed a declaration on the survey form. The couple has also filed a self declaration stating that they were opting out from this process.

Using personal reasons as a reason, Ms. Murthy has refused to answer a single question in the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes-led (KSCBC) Social and Educational Survey.

Political Leaders React with Respect to Murty’s Decision

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar responds to Ms. Murty. 

He said, "We cannot force anyone to participate in the survey, it has to be done voluntarily.”

Karnataka's labour minister & Congress leader Santosh Lad said also said, 

He said, “Who is influential or not, is subjective. I don’t think it would have any impact on society. If she has taken her stand, I will respect her.”

The Karnataka government hopes that the caste survey will lead to a more egalitarian society. The data would also assist in better implementation of welfare programmes, it said. This will translate to effective empowerment of downtrodden and vulnerable groups.

Mohadas Pai, former CEO of tech giant Infosys too, slammed the caste survey. 

“Compared to the benefits and huge high-paying jobs, this is very small. In Karnataka, ministers are more bothered about caste, caste surveys, appeasement, not growth, development, good jobs, or technology. They are taking the state backwards, borrowing money for freebies.”

Court Clarifies: Survey Is Optional, Data Confidential

The Karnataka High Court directed the State Government to publish in public domain and society that 'Socio-Economic Caste Survey' (SECC), is not mandatory. Moreover, the court held that surveyors could not be particular. They ordered all collected data to be kept confidential, accessible only by the Backward Classes Commission.

A court ruling indicates that collecting this data was not an infringement on citizens’ rights. 

The bench said, "We, however, state that the data collected shall not be disclosed to anyone. The Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes (KSCBC) shall ensure that data is fully protected and confidential.”

The survey manual caste list was an internal affair and not enforceable by law, the Backward Classes Commission chairman Madhusudan R. Naik had said earlier. The only object of the same was to assist the enumerators in ascertaining the castes according to alphabetical sequence.

Survey Expected to Cost Rs 420 Crore with 60 Key Questions

Census officials began house to house survey of castes in Karnataka on September 22. The survey has 60 items. The survey is likely to cost Rs 420 crore.

The commission is required to complete the survey by Oct. 19. They will present their findings to the government by December.