Justice Sanjay Karol of the Supreme Court on Wednesday recused himself from hearing a plea filed by the Bihar government, challenging a Patna High Court order that had stayed till July 3 the caste survey undertaken by the state.

The matter had come up for hearing before a bench comprising justices BR Gavai and Sanjay Karol.

Justice Karol said he was recusing from the case since he had adjudicated on some litigation pertaining to the case while he was a judge in the Patna High Court.

Justice Karol had earlier served as the chief justice of the Patna High Court before he was elevated to the Supreme Court.

The plea filed by the Bihar government stated that the high court erroneously examined the merits of the case at the interim stage and touched upon the legislative competence of the state.