*Hyderabad, November 6* – In a significant ruling, the Telangana High Court has directed the state government to consider including a “No Caste, No Religion” (NRNC) option in its upcoming socio-economic survey, which is set to commence today. This directive comes in response to a writ petition filed by Mohammad Waheed and D.L. Krishna Chand, active members of the Kula Nirmulana Sangham, an organization advocating for a casteless society in India.The petitioners argued that the right of citizens to identify as having “No Religion, No Caste” should be recognized in official records, aligning with fundamental constitutional principles. They pointed out that despite previous court rulings on similar issues, the government had not implemented an NRNC category in key areas such as school admissions, employment documentation, and census records.The petition cited Articles 14 (Right to Equality), 19 (Freedom of Speech and Expression), 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty), and 25 (Freedom of Religion) of the Indian Constitution. The petitioners contended that the exclusion of an NRNC option contradicted the secular ethos of the Constitution and restricted individuals’ freedom of conscience, which Article 25(1) specifically guarantees.The High Court, recognizing these constitutional rights, noted prior judgments supporting individuals’ rights to abstain from caste or religious identification. It directed the Telangana government to review the petitioners’ representation, emphasizing that their request aligned with constitutional mandates for freedom of conscience and equality.The government has been asked to expedite its decision on the inclusion of an NRNC option and inform the petitioners accordingly before the survey begins. If implemented, this would mark a progressive shift toward more inclusive data collection practices that respect citizens’ diverse beliefs and choices.