Sravan Dasoju demands disclosure of caste census, calls data suppression undemocratic
Hyderabad: BRS MLC Dr. Sravan Dasoju on Saturday urged the Telangana State Information Commission to direct the immediate public release of the SEEEPC caste census and related expert committee reports, accusing the state government of deliberately withholding foundational data used to justify Backward Classes (BC) reservations.
In a formal appeal to Chief Information Commissioner Dr. G. Chandrashekar Reddy, Dr. Dasoju demanded enforcement of Sections 19(8), 4(1)(b), and 4(2) of the RTI Act, 2005. He described the non-disclosure as a systemic breach of transparency, and warned that governance without data undermines both democracy and constitutional integrity.
Sravan Dasoju: Reservation without data is reckless governance
Dr. Dasoju said that while the government claims to have completed a detailed SEEEPC Survey and constituted expert panels, it has failed to release the raw caste-wise data, methodology, and reports that support the proposed 42% BC reservation. “You cannot claim social justice while hiding the very data that justifies it,” he said.
Calling the withholding of data a deliberate act, not an oversight, he cited Section 4 of the RTI Act, which mandates proactive disclosure of facts forming the basis of public policy. He argued that secrecy on such foundational matters disables public debate and erodes democratic accountability.
Dr. Dasoju cited Supreme Court rulings Kishan Chand Jain v. Union of India (2023) and Chief Information Commissioner v. State of Manipur (2011) which held that policy-related information cannot be withheld, and that citizens have the right to know the data behind government decisions.
“No government has the luxury to legislate first and explain later,” he said. “Democracy demands disclosure before deception.”
He called on the Commission to issue the following directives under Section 19(8):
Immediate disclosure of the SEEEPC survey reports, disaggregated caste data, and related materials.
Mandatory online publication in searchable, downloadable formats.
A formal declaration that policy data cannot be shielded under RTI exemptions.
Strict time-bound compliance within 15–30 days, with progress reporting.
Concluding his statement, Dr. Dasoju said, “Social justice cannot be built on secrecy. If data is hidden, trust is broken. If trust is broken, democracy collapses.”