The decision by Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy and Rajya Sabha MP and his wife Sudha Murty to opt out of the ongoing social and educational survey in Karnataka, has sparked off a debate on social media.
The couple refused to take part in the survey when enumerators visited their home, saying they do not belong to any backward caste, PTI quoted sources in the BBMP as saying on Thursday.
Sudha Murthy, reportedly, signed a self-declaration letter refusing to provide information in a pro forma issued by the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission for the Social and Educational Survey 2025. "Due to some of my personal reasons, I am refusing to provide information in the social and educational survey being conducted by the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission."
She, reportedly, added in Kannada, "We do not belong to any backward community. Hence, we will not participate in a government-conducted survey meant for such groups."
Her reply did not go down well with some netizens, who termed it “typical classist attitude”, while others commended the couple for refusing to be “categorized by caste”. Though nicknamed ‘caste survey’, it is a social and educational survey officially, and is intended to collect data on the social, educational, and economic conditions of all communities across the state.
The couple or their representatives are yet to respond to the matter.
Some netizens also asked whether it was within their rights to refuse to furnish the details as part of the survey. However, in September 2025, the Karnataka High Court had issued an interim order confirming that participation in the survey is voluntary. The court directed the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes to announce publicly that no citizen will be forced to disclose their personal information.
The survey enumerators too were instructed to inform citizens that their participation is voluntary and that individuals can sign a self-declaration form stating their refusal to participate, as Sudha Murty did.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, too, had confirmed that participation in the survey is voluntary and that no one can be forced to take part.
The survey started on September 22 and was originally scheduled to conclude on October 7, but was later extended to October 18. |
