Chennai: The three-member commission led by former Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan has received a one-year extension to finalize its report on granting Scheduled Caste (SC) status to Dalit Muslims and Christians.
The debate traces back to the 2007 Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission, which recommended extending SC status to Dalit converts to Islam and Christianity. However, the government dismissed the report as “flawed.”
Legal and Constitutional Background
The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, reserves SC benefits for Dalits from Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist communities. Petitions challenging this exclusion have been pending in the Supreme Court for two decades, urging an extension of reservation benefits to Dalit converts from Islam and Christianity.
Acknowledging the issue’s significance, the apex court directed action, prompting the formation of the Balakrishnan Commission to examine the matter. The commission is tasked with evaluating the socio-economic conditions of Dalit converts across India, but delays in field visits and data collection have slowed its progress, leading to the recent extension.
Government’s Opposition
The government has resisted extending SC status to Dalit Muslims and Christians, citing:
• Lack of Social Stigma: It argues that untouchability does not exist in Islam or Christianity.
• Foreign Origin of Religions: The Centre has highlighted the non-Indian origins of these religions as a basis for exclusion.
• Impact on Existing SC Groups: Concerns have been raised about how inclusion might dilute benefits for current SC communities.
The Centre criticized the Ranganath Mishra report, stating it was flawed due to the absence of field studies and inadequate assessment of the implications for existing SCs.
Counterarguments
M.H. Jawahirullah, an MLA from Tamil Nadu, dismissed the government’s stance, arguing:
“Changing religion does not change one’s social status. A Dalit remains a Dalit, regardless of converting to Islam or Christianity.”
What Lies Ahead
As the Balakrishnan Commission continues its work, the Supreme Court’s final decision will have far-reaching implications for the socio-economic landscape and the ongoing struggle for equality among Dalit communities in all faiths.
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