Bengaluru: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has suspended three civic officials following widespread complaints of misconduct and procedural lapses during the Scheduled Caste (SC) enumeration drive. The suspension comes after allegations that survey personnel were arbitrarily affixing stickers to homes without consent or proper verification, sparking public outrage and social media backlash.
The suspended officials have been identified as Sendhil Kumar, Revenue Collector of Ward 198 (Kengeri), Peddaraju, Revenue Collector of Ward 24, and Ramesh, Revenue Inspector of HBR Layout. They were involved in a controversial door-to-door caste enumeration exercise meant to identify Scheduled Caste households.
According to residents, the officers pasted caste survey stickers on homes without recording any background information and reacted rudely when questioned. Videos of confrontations between officials and residents soon went viral, prompting BBMP to initiate disciplinary action.
Civic officials stated that the sticker drive was part of a state-led initiative to collect caste-based data exclusively for Scheduled Castes. However, the execution by field staff lacked procedural clarity, resulting in confusion and public backlash.
BBMP sources confirmed that instructions have now been reissued to all officials to ensure that stickers are only affixed after collecting verified data from residents. In cases where residents refuse to disclose information, they have the option of verifying details online.
Speaking to media, BBMP officials said, “The sticker drive must be conducted respectfully and with full transparency. These officers not only failed to follow protocol but also mishandled public interactions.”
The suspended officials allegedly gave dismissive or aggressive responses to legitimate resident concerns, further eroding public trust. The civic body has since issued directives to ensure all field-level caste survey work—particularly for Scheduled Castes—is conducted within the bounds of civility and procedure.
Further review of the caste enumeration process is underway across multiple wards to identify any additional instances of misconduct. BBMP reiterated that it is committed to protecting the dignity of Scheduled Caste households while ensuring accurate data collection.
