New Delhi, July 19 (PTI): The Supreme Court today sought Centre's view on the issue of granting Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians for extending benefits of reservation to them.

A bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan asked the Centre to respond within two months after it was informed that the Committee entrusted to look into the matter has submitted its report to the Government which was awaiting the comments of National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC).

Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam said the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities (NCRLM) headed by former Chief Justice of India Rangnath Misra in its report has found substance on the points raised for granting Scheduled Castes status to the Dalits who have converted to Christianity.

The PIL filed by an NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), has said reservation was available to dalits while being followers of Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism and there was no reason to deprive Dalit Christians of the benefit.

The Centre's stand that it will give its opinion only after receiving the expert comments from NCSC was opposed by senior advocate Shanti Bhushan, who, appearing for CPIL, said "there was no need for any other view".