Jai Govind Pandey v. Union Of India & ANR.
$~107 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 865/2026 JAI GOVIND PANDEY .....Petitioner Through:
Petitioner in person.
versus UNION OF INDIA & ANR.
.....Respondents Through:
Ms Manisha Agrawal Narain, CGSC with Mr Navneet Saharan and Ms Aditi singh, GP.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PURUSHAINDRA KUMAR KAURAV
O R D E R
% 21.01.2026 1.
The petitioner seeks the following reliefs:
"1. Declare that the petitioner has a fundamental right under Articles 21 and 25 of the Constitution to accept and follow the Vama (Shudra) as per his Janam Kundali and religious belief;
2. Declare that the petitioner cannot be compelled, directly or indirectly, to adopt a hereditary caste-based Varna;
3. Direct the respondents not to interfere with the petitioner's personal religious practices;
4. Pass any other order(s) as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit in the interest of justice."
2.
He wants himself to be recognized as 'Shudra'. He contends that because his name is Jai Govind Pandey, many Brahmins are compelling him to be categorized as 'Brahmin' whereas, by his Janam Kundli, he is 'Shudra'.
3.
Under Article 25 of the Constitution of India, the freedom of The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 24/01/2026 at 13:16:39
conscience and the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion is recognised. There does not seem to be any impediment in the Constitution for the petitioner to follow and practice his beliefs in any manner he wishes to, without contravening the law. Therefore, the petitioner does not have any cause of action against the respondents.
4.
Under these circumstances, in absence of there being any specific grievance against the respondents, the Court cannot accede to the prayer made in the instant petition and hence, the same stands dismissed. PURUSHAINDRA KUMAR KAURAV, J JANUARY 21, 2026/P/AMG The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 24/01/2026 at 13:16:39