Petition seeks response on SC status to Dalit Christians

Following a petition filed by a Christian group, the Supreme Court has ordered the government to swiftly respond on the case of Dalit Christians and Muslims.

Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice B S Chauhan issued notices to the government after the All India Christian Federation filed a petition calling for speedy response.

The petition followed suit two earlier petitions that denounced para 3 of the Constitution Scheduled Castes Order, 1950, which debars reservation benefits to Dalits who convert from Hinduism to Christianity or Islam.

It also apprised the Supreme Court on the past amendment of the 1950 Order, which included Dalits of Buddhist and Sikh religion, while continuing to do injustice to those of Christianity and Islam.

Importantly, it did not fail to mention the report of National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities (NCLRM) that recommended inclusion of Dalit Christians and Muslims in the SC category.

According to sources, the last time the Supreme Court issued directions in the case was in July 2007 while hearing two lawsuits.

The bench, then headed by Chief Justice KG. Balakrishnan and having Justice R.V. Raveendran and Justice Dalveer Bhandari on it, had sought "all information, data and details" within eight weeks to help it arrive at a decision.

The details were sought from then additional solicitor general Gopal Subramanium, now the country's solicitor general.

Though Christians form a minority in India, the majority among them belongs to the Scheduled Castes (Dalit) and Tribal Communities.

All the political parties except the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has consented on according SC status to Dalit Christians and Muslims.