LUCKNOW, Sept. 4 -- The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has asked the central and state governments as to what measures they are adopting to stop caste-based rallies in UP. The court granted time to both the governments' counsel to file their reply on a PIL seeking a ban on caste-based rallies. The matter will be heard in second week of October. A division bench comprising Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla passed the order on Wednesday while hearing the PIL filed by lawyer Motilal Yadav in 2013. The plea had urged the court to direct the Election Commission of India (ECI) to derecognise political parties that organise caste-centric rallies and sought directives for the central and state governments to stop such rallies. On July 11, 2013, the HC stayed with immediate effect caste-based rallies throughout UP, while issuing notices to the central and state governments, EC and four major political parties. The ruling came in the backdrop of the BSP organising 'Brahmin Bhaichara Sammelan' in 40 districts of the state. The SP had also organised a similar event in Lucknow in 2013. The court also issued notices to the Congress, BJP, BSP and SP. The petitioner had submitted that there was a spurt in caste-based political rallies in the state. He submitted that while such events were causing damage to social unity and harmony, they were also vitiating the society that was against the spirit of the Constitution. HTC...