The Madras High Court has stayed a single judge’s order against the registration and operation of caste-based societies, but only for the South Indian Senguntha Mahajana Sangam. The Division Bench, led by Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan, granted an interim stay until February 11, 2026. The stay came after advocate S.P. Chockalingam argued that the single judge issued broad directions unrelated to the specific case. The court agreed, saying, "Taking into consideration the submission of learned counsel for the appellant that without there being any challenge to the name/title of the appellant society, directions have been issued wholly unconcerned with the issue that arose for consideration in the writ petition, it is directed that the impugned order shall remain stayed in so far as its application to the present appellant is concerned." The single judge, Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, had passed the original order on April 16, 2025, after hearing petitions from the South Indian Senguntha Mahajana Sangam, a group from Namakkal district, and the Poor Educational Fund. Justice Chakravarthy disapproved caste-based societies and ordered the Inspector General of Registration (IGR) to list all such societies. The IGR was told to notify them to remove caste references from their names and bylaws, and to open memberships to all without caste limits. Schools and colleges carrying caste names were ordered to drop such appellations by the 2025-26 academic year. Failure to comply could mean withdrawal of recognition and student transfers from 2026-27. The judge also ordered the removal of caste-linked terms from government school names as per a committee’s recommendations. He stated caste systems cross all religions and rejected court cases filed by caste-based groups, stressing they "cannot expect the High Court to come to their rescue". Noting that caste divides are pervasive, he said, "these fanatics will carry it even to the moon." The current stay applies only to the Senguntha Mahajana Sangam’s appeal, with further responses from officials awaited.