Press meet called for SC status to Dalit Christians

To call attention to the government's lack of response on extending Scheduled Caste (SC) status to Dalit Christians and Muslims, the National Council of Dalit Christians and All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaj has called for a press meeting on March 1.

The meeting at the Constitution Club in Delhi will demand the Union government to take prompt "Cabinet decision for extending the Scheduled Castes privileges to Dalit Christians and Muslims".

It was on August 10, 1950 that a presidential Order prevented Dalit Christians and Muslims from enjoying the economic and educational benefits authorised by the government for the Scheduled Caste people.

The 1950 Order made reservation in education and jobs available to those from low-caste that follow Hinduism. It was later modified to include Sikhs and Buddhists, but still excludes Christians and Muslims.

The National Commission on Religious & Linguistic Minorities, headed by Justice Ranganath Mishra, former Chief Justice of India, had earlier recommended extending the benefit of reservation to Dalits belonging to Christian and Muslim communities.

"The response of the UPA government in bringing justice to Dalit Christians is absolutely frustrating. Several reports and meetings have already underlined the need for government to react positively, but still why this delay," asks Franklin Caesar, a Dalit activist leading the legal battle for Christians.

The Union government is still to respond to a writ petition filed in the Supreme Court in 2004.

"The hearing of the petition is unduly delayed because of the unreasonable tactics of the government to give a reply to the Supreme Court," says Thomas.

The petition has demanded the deletion of the "discriminatory" para 3 of the Constitution Order 1950.