Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, wife Sudha Murty refuse to take part in Karnataka caste census
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Bengaluru: Infosys founder Narayana Murthy and his wife, author Sudha Murty, have declined to participate in the ongoing Socio-Economic and Academic Survey, commonly referred to as the caste census, being conducted by the Congress-led government in Karnataka.
The couple submitted a self-attested letter to the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission, the autonomous body overseeing the survey, stating that they were opting out for personal reasons. “We and our family will not participate in the census, and we are confirming it through this letter,” the statement read.
They further clarified that they do not belong to any backward caste and that their participation would not be of any use to the government. “Hence, we are not taking part,” Narayana Murthy wrote in the letter.
Earlier, enumerators had visited the residence of Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Congress president D.K. Shivakumar in Sadashivanagar, Bengaluru. Shivakumar and his family cooperated with the process, answering questions related to religion, caste, and other details. However, after a prolonged round of questioning, Shivakumar reportedly remarked, “Why are you taking so much time just to ask questions? Too much questioning.”
Meanwhile, senior advocate B.V. Acharya recently advised against participating in the caste census, warning that personal data collected through the process could be misused.
The deadline for the state’s caste census has been extended, with data collection now scheduled to conclude by October 12 across Karnataka and by October 24 in Bengaluru, after the original October 7 deadline was missed due to incomplete enumeration.
To ensure the survey’s completion, the government has implemented half-day schedules for schools, with government and aided institutions operating from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Some Dasara holidays have also been extended.
As of early October 2025, officials said around 83 per cent of households, 1.22 crore out of 1.43 crore, had been covered in the ongoing caste survey.