Court verdict favors tribal Christians on quotas

Church leaders have welcomed the High Court decision to uphold the tribal Christians' right to government quotas in the state of Jharkhand.

The govt. ruling came in response to the petitions challenging the reservation of seats in educational institutions and jobs for tribal converts to Christianity.

The unhappy petitioners disputed that the benefits apply for tribal people who practice their native religion and converts to Christianity cannot be categorised in this.

Following the verdict, Gossner Evangelical Church Bishop Nelson Lakra of Ranchi told UCA News, "We welcome the decision."

The court "has done the right thing," Bishop Lakra said. "We are born tribal and will remain tribal until we die. Nobody can change this status which God has given us," added the prelate, who heads his Church as its moderator.

Although the Indian Constitution allows quotas for low–caste and tribal people, to uplift their social status, converts to Christianity are denied of these benefits.

Dismissing the petitions, the court said, "It cannot be accepted that merely by change of religion a person ceases to be a member of a tribe."

The quota issue came on serious note, in 2002, when petitioner Karpara Hansda and wife of Sangram Besra had filed a PIL, in which they sought to debar tribals converted to Christianity from availing the reservation benefits that are extended to all members of Scheduled Tribes as per the Constitution.

The Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice MY Eqbal and Justice DK Sinha after hearing the arguments, referred to the 2004 Supreme Court judgment and declared "... as a broad proposition of law it cannot be accepted that merely by change of religion a person ceases to be a member of the Scheduled Tribe..."