NEW DELHI: The central government has told the Supreme Court that the Scheduled Caste status cannot be given to Dalits who have converted to Christianity and Islam. The Centre's affidavit is in a plea seeking an order to grant reservation and benefits given to Dalit Hindus also to converted Dalits.

The petition pointed out Justice Ranganath Misra Commission report which states that the problems faced by Dalit Hindus are also experienced by Dalits in other religions. According to the plea, the Scheduled Castes-Scheduled Tribes Commission has also expressed a similar view. A bench comprising of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Vikram Nath is hearing the petition.

Only people from Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh faith get Scheduled Castes benefits. The reason for providing benefits is their social backwardness and the social evils that existed among them.

“The Constitution (Scheduled Caste) Order, 1950 was based on historical data which clearly established that no such backwardness or oppression was ever faced by members of Christian or Islamic Society. In fact, one of the reasons for which people from people from Scheduled Castes have been converting to religions like Islam or Christianity is so that they can come out of the oppressive system of untouchability which is not prevalent at all in Christianity or Islam. Therefore, the Scheduled Caste Order, 1950, which only gives Scheduled Caste status to Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs, is not unconstitutional,” the government said.

27% reservation for Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims

The Centre pointed out that Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims are entitled to 27% reservation of other backward classes. The Centre also stated in the affidavit that the petitioners should wait till Justice KG Balakrishnan report came out.