Supreme Court: Dalit Muslims and Christians do not have Scheduled Caste status, Center justifies it
The central government told the top court that reservation in jobs and education is currently available only to people belonging to Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist communities.
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Dalit Muslims and Christians have not been given Scheduled Caste (SC) status in the country. They are not given any reservation in jobs and education institutions under SC reservation. The Central Government said this in the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
The central government told the top court that reservation in jobs and education is currently available only to people belonging to Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist communities. This reservation is provided under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950.
The government also clarified that the groups which were called Dalits in the past, but later switched to Islam or Christianity, as untouchability is not a social evil in these two religions, also does not have SC status. The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950 has been challenged in the Supreme Court through several petitions. During the hearing on these on Wednesday, the Center presented its side.
These petitions have demanded that reservation should also be provided to Dalit Muslims and Christians, who have converted to Islam or Christianity. The Center said that the Scheduled Caste status carries a social stigma and focus on backwardness. This facility is limited to the communities recognized under the said order of 1950.
Christian or Muslim society never faced social oppression. The central government also said that the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 was based on historical data. It clearly proved that the members of Christian or Islamic society never faced social backwardness or oppression.
The government argued that in the past one of the reasons for the Scheduled Castes to adopt religions such as Islam or Christianity was that they wanted freedom from the stigma of untouchability. Untouchability is not at all in Christianity or Islam. Balakrishna Commission to be Considered The government told the apex court that it had last month constituted a three-member commission headed by former CJI KG Balakrishnan. This commission will examine whether Dalit Muslims and Christians can be given Scheduled Caste status.