The Hindu : Front Page : Spell out stand on quota for Dalit Christians: court

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 20, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Spell out stand on quota for Dalit Christians: court

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Centre to spell out its stand on granting Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians for extending reservation benefits.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justices R.V. Raveendran and Dalveer Bhandari asked it to respond in eight weeks after Additional Solicitor-General Gopal Subramaniam informed the court that a committee looking into the matter had submitted its report to the Government, which was awaiting the comments of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC).

The Government would come out with its response once the report was submitted. Mr. Subramaniam said the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities (NCRLM), headed by the former Chief Justice of India Ranganath Misra, found substance in the points raised for granting SC status to Dalits who converted to Christianity.

Petitioner’s contention

The Bench was hearing a petition filed by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), which said such reservation was available to Dalits while being followers of the Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism and there was no reason to deprive Dalit Christians of the benefit.

Senior advocate Shanti Bhushan, appearing for the CPIL, said, “There was no need for any other view” and the Government could take a decision as the Misra Commission had recommended SC status to Dalit Christians.

However, the Bench said, “It was for the Government to take a decision. Caste system has to be examined in detail and data have to be collected. We are not concerned with the Misra Commission report. We will ask Government to take a decision.”

Senior advocate Ram Jethmalani, appearing for the All-India United Christians Movement for Equal Rights, said the Congress Government in 1996 had brought a Bill in the Lok Sabha to amend para three of the “Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950” for extending reservation benefits to Dalit Christians.

“The Government of today, which was in power in 1996, has to be morally committed to the issue.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page