NEW DELHI: A special panel may recommend to the govt that status quo should be maintained on the definition of Scheduled Castes, as laid down by the Presidential (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, and not expanded to bring in Dalit converts to Islam and Christianity.The commission of inquiry, headed by former Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan, has been mandated to investigate if status of Scheduled Castes can be extended to persons who have converted to religions other than those eligible for it – popularly known as “Dalit converts to Christianity and Islam”.The 1950 Presidential Order states that only persons belonging to Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism can be members of Scheduled Castes.The vexed issue has been pending before Supreme Court for over 20 years in which “Dalit converts” have demanded that they be included in the Scheduled Castes’ list.Reports of the past commissions – Kaka Kalelkar, Sachar and Rangnath Misra – on the tricky issue, and the stand taken by National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) over the years have provided the background material for research. A 1911 book by a Christian missionary has also been relied upon.While Sachar did not recommend the Scheduled Castes status for religious converts, Misra panel did ask for the Scheduled Castes’ list to be made religion-neutral. Its recommendation was apparently not accepted by govt because the panel did not conduct a study to reach its conclusion. Kalelkar commission, sources said, recommended only OBC status, and not Scheduled Castes recognition to Dalit converts.NCSC took a contradictory stand during the UPA govt, even mentioning that 50% cap on reservations should not be disturbed.According to sources, the 1911 book states that Dalits gain social status after conversion – something which seems to lighten the burden of disability which is cited for giving affirmative action benefits to Scheduled Castes. Given the inputs, the commission may recommend that the present arrangement on eligibility for inclusion in Scheduled Castes’ list should stay. Besides, there is also a lack of clarity on which of the religious converts were formerly members of Scheduled Castes, sources said.
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Pending for over two decades, the demand of religious converts to be included in Scheduled Castes’ list has become controversial because of its political dimensions. Existing Dalit communities are often found to oppose fresh inclusions in Scheduled Castes’ list, arguing that such a move will increase the number of claimants for job and educational reservations.BJP argues that making Scheduled Castes status religion-neutral will encourage religious conversions.
