NewKerala.com

Key Points

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has declared that Scheduled Caste certificates acquired after religious conversion will be revoked. The decision aligns with a Supreme Court verdict restricting SC status to Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs. The state will also recover benefits like jobs or elections secured through such certificates. Additionally, the government plans legal action against fraudulent conversions while allowing voluntary ones.

Key Points: Fadnavis Says SC Certificates Gained Via Conversion Will Be Cancelled

  • SC status limited to Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs per Supreme Court ruling
  • Maharashtra to cancel wrongfully obtained SC certificates
  • Govt to probe fraudulent conversions and recover benefits
  • No action against religious institutions without verified complaints
2 min read

SC certificates obtained through conversion will be cancelled: Maha CM

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis announces cancellation of SC certificates obtained post-conversion, citing Supreme Court's religious eligibility criteria.

"Certificates obtained fraudulently will be cancelled, and benefits secured through them will be recovered. – Devendra Fadnavis"

Mumbai, July 17

The Supreme Court has given a clear verdict on November 26, 2024, that only Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs can get the benefit of reservation for Scheduled Castes (SC), and other religions are not eligible. In line with this, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis informed the Legislative Council on Thursday that the certificates of Scheduled Castes obtained after conversion will be cancelled.

Responding to the issue raised by members Amit Gorkhe, Chitra Wagh, Praveen Darekar, Uma Khapre, and Shrikant Bhartiya, the Chief Minister said that giving Scheduled Caste certificates to those who convert to Christianity is not in accordance with the Constitution. The Supreme Court decision also states that if someone is not a Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist, they will not get Scheduled Caste status, he added.

He said that if people of other religions have obtained Scheduled Caste certificates in a wrong manner, then in such cases the certificates of the concerned persons will be cancelled, and if they have obtained benefits like jobs, elections through it, then the benefits obtained will also be recovered.

At the same time, he also clarified that the state government is ready to take strict action against those who convert people through fraud, pressure or bait. He also stated that the report of the committee headed by the state Director General of Police in this regard has been received, and legal provisions will be made based on that.

“No action will be taken against any religious institution solely on the basis of religion, but if a complaint is received, an investigation will be conducted and action will be taken if found guilty. Moreover, certificates obtained by people known as crypto Christians who have converted secretly and presented themselves as Hindus are also becoming a challenge. The authorities have been given the power to verify the authenticity of such cases and cancel their validity based on spot visits and complaints,” said the Chief Minister.

He also assured the House that while there is no ban on voluntary conversion, the state government will take strict action against fraudulent conversions.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Shreya B
While I understand the logic, this might affect genuine people who converted for personal faith but still face caste discrimination. The government should have a proper verification process before cancelling certificates. #ThinkAboutAllCases
V
Vikram M
The crypto-Christian issue is real in many states. Some people attend church secretly while showing Hindu identity for benefits. This fraud must stop! Government should conduct proper background checks before issuing any caste certificates.
A
Ananya R
Reservation was never meant to be permanent. Instead of fighting over who gets it, we should focus on quality education and jobs for all. The real solution is to make caste irrelevant in modern India!
N
Nikhil C
The implementation must be done carefully. Many poor families might have converted generations ago but still face same caste discrimination. Blanket cancellation without proper inquiry could harm genuine cases. Government should form district-level committees.
P
Priya S
This is a welcome move! I've seen many cases in my hometown where people converted just to get benefits. They would attend Sunday mass but keep Hindu names for documents. Such frauds must be stopped to protect the original purpose of reservation.
K
Karan T
While the intention is good, the government must ensure this doesn't become a tool for harassment. The verification process should be transparent and time-bound.

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