In a significant step toward upholding the dignity of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the Haryana Government has officially banned the use of the terms ‘Harijan’ and ‘Girijan’ in all official communications, documents, and certificates. The directive, issued by the Chief Secretary’s office, mandates that these terms be replaced with “Scheduled Caste” (Anusuchit Jati) and “Scheduled Tribe” (Anusuchit Janjati) in both English and Hindi versions of government records.
The Context of the Directive The move aligns with long-standing recommendations from the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and various judicial observations which state that such nomenclature can be perceived as patronizing or offensive.
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The Notification: The government has directed all departments, boards, corporations, and universities across the state to immediately stop using these words in any fresh correspondence or official certificates (including caste certificates).
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Objective: The primary goal is to ensure that the nomenclature used for constitutional categories remains formal, dignified, and in accordance with the Constitution of India.
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Compliance: Head of departments have been instructed to conduct an audit of their existing forms and digital templates to remove these banned terms.
Legal and Social Background The term ‘Harijan’ was popularized during the freedom struggle but has faced criticism from various Dalit organizations and leaders who argue that it does not reflect the constitutional identity of the community. Similar directives have been issued in the past by the Central Government and other states like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. By formalizing this in 2026, Haryana aims to eliminate any remaining remnants of this terminology in its administrative machinery.
Administrative Impact Citizens applying for new caste certificates or government welfare schemes will now see the updated terminology on all paperwork. The State Social Justice Department has been tasked with monitoring the implementation of this order to ensure 100% compliance across all districts, from Panchkula to Sirsa.
