Karnataka HC Refuses to Halt Socio-Economic Survey - Makes Data Secret, Participation Voluntary

News Network
September 25, 2025

HC.jpg

Bengaluru, Sept 25: The Karnataka High Court today refused to halt the state government's controversial socio-economic survey, but imposed stringent conditions on its execution, focusing heavily on privacy and consent.

A division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Joshi permitted the ongoing data collection exercise to continue but issued a clear directive: the state must ensure the confidentiality of all collected data and publicly clarify that participation is entirely voluntary.

The Court's Directives

The court's decision, which came after hearing a batch of petitions challenging the survey, mandates two critical safeguards:

Data Confidentiality: The data collected by the Karnataka State Backwards Classes Commission "shall not be disclosed to any person." The Commission has been directed to ensure the data is "fully protected and kept confidential." The Commission is also required to file an affidavit within one working day outlining the steps taken for the confidentiality of the data.

Voluntary Participation: The Commission must issue a public notification clarifying that the survey is voluntary, and "no person is obligated to disclose any information." Enumerators must inform participants of this voluntary nature right "at the threshold stage." Furthermore, if a participant declines, enumerators are strictly forbidden from taking any "further steps to persuade or cajol" them to divulge information.

Arguments in Court

The petitions challenged the state government's order approving the survey, which aims to collect data on the social and educational status of citizens.

Privacy Concerns: Senior Advocate Vivek Subba Reddy argued that the collection of personal information, especially after the landmark KS Puttaswamy case on the Right to Privacy, was problematic. He submitted that this exercise risked leaving personal data in an "uncontrolled field" and amounted to an invasion of privacy that must be tested against the principle of proportionality.

Survey or Census? A key point of contention raised by Senior Advocate S. Sriranga was that while the state labels the exercise a "survey," its official handbook refers to it as a "census." The petitioners contended that a full-scale census is in the exclusive domain of the Union Government.

Government's Defence: Senior Advocate Ravivarma Kumar, representing the Backwards Classes Commission, countered that the process had been re-examined, and enumerators were already instructed that there was no compulsion to participate. The survey, he submitted, is crucial for capturing data on whether a particular class or caste is adequately represented.

Regarding concerns over data security, particularly the potential linkage with Aadhaar, the Court clarified that the information collected is not linked to Aadhaar, but merely the fact that a participant has an Aadhaar number would be stored.

Ultimately, the division bench declined to "interdict" the ongoing survey, allowing the collection of data to proceed but firmly establishing the mandatory nature of data protection and voluntary consent for all citizens.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
December 2,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 2: Mangaluru International Airport responded to a medical emergency late on Monday night. Air India Express flight IX 522, travelling from Riyadh to Thiruvananthapuram, was diverted to Mangaluru Airport after a passenger in his late 30s experienced a medical emergency on board.

The Airport’s Operations Control Centre received an alert regarding the passenger’s health condition. The airport activated its emergency response protocol, mobilising the airport medical team and coordinating with stakeholders including CISF, immigration, and customs. 

Upon landing, airport medical personnel attended to the passenger, assessed his condition, and arranged to shift him to a local tertiary-care hospital for further treatment. The passenger’s relatives accompanied the passenger, who incidentally received necessary medical care on board, which helped stabilise the situation.

Following the handling of the emergency, the flight departed for Thiruvananthapuram at 2:05 am on Tuesday.

"We appreciate the cooperation of all parties involved, and this incident reaffirms our ongoing commitment to prioritising passenger safety and readiness to respond to unforeseen emergencies with professionalism and care," the Airport spokesperson said. 

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
November 21,2025

Tejas.jpg

An Indian Air Force (IAF) Tejas fighter jet crashed on Friday, November 21, afternoon during its aerial demonstration at the Dubai Air Show, plunging to the ground at around 2:10 pm local time while performing a manoeuvre before thousands of spectators.

The IAF confirmed the incident, stating that a Tejas aircraft participating in the show had crashed and that further details were being gathered. An Air Force spokesperson said more information would be shared after initial assessments.

The crash sent thick black smoke billowing into the sky near the airport, causing panic among visitors, including families and children who had gathered to watch the display. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the pilot managed to eject before the aircraft went down. Emergency response teams rushed to the scene, and officials have not released information on casualties or damage so far.

The Tejas is a 4.5-generation, multi-role fighter aircraft developed indigenously by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Designed for versatility, it is capable of offensive air support, close combat, ground attack missions and maritime operations. The aircraft family includes single-seat fighters and twin-seat trainers for both the Air Force and Navy.

HAL describes the latest version, the LCA Mk1A, as the most advanced in the series, featuring an AESA radar, an upgraded electronic warfare suite with radar-warning and self-protection jamming, smart multifunction displays, a digital map generator, a combined interrogator–transponder system and a modern radio altimeter. These enhancements significantly improve the aircraft’s combat capability and survivability.

Further updates from IAF and UAE authorities are awaited.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
December 2,2025

DKSsiddu.jpg

Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.