Allahabad HC asks Uttar Pradesh to act against Christian converts retaining SC benefits
Court cites constitutional provisions and past rulings while directing authorities to examine misuse of Scheduled Caste status after conversion December 02, 2025 Ishita Mishra
Allahabad High Court recently asked the Uttar Pradesh government to crack down on people who have converted to Christianity but continue to avail benefits meant for Scheduled Castes (SC).
A Bench of Justice Praveen Kumar Giri in its order passed on November 21 cited an order of the Andhra Pradesh High Court which said that caste-based discrimination does not exist within the Christian faith, and therefore the basis for Scheduled Caste classification stands nullified upon conversion, irrespective of the existence of any previously issued caste certificate.
The Bench also cited a Supreme Court order which observed that claiming caste-based benefits merely for the purpose of availing reservation after conversion amounts to a “fraud on the Constitution.”
The court dismissed the plea filed by Jitendra Sahani who has been accused of promoting enmity between two religions and outraging the religious feelings of a particular community. In his plea, Mr. Sahani stated that he merely sought permission to organise a gathering on his own land to “preach the words of Jesus Christ” but police falsely implicated him in the case.
The police, however, told the court that the applicant, who belonged to the Kewat community, had stated his religion to be Hinduism in his affidavit but had actually converted to Christianity. One of the witnesses, quoted by the police in the chargesheet, submitted that Mr. Sahani used to allure poor people to convert to Christianity. The witness further alleged that the accused used filthy, abusive and absurd language about Hindu deities.
Noting the relevant provisions of the Constitution (Scheduled Caste) Order, 1950 under which no person who belongs to a community other than Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist shall be deemed to be a member of a Scheduled Caste, the High Court asked the District Magistrate of Maharajganj to take strict action against Mr. Sahani if he is found guilty of forgery by claiming to be Hindu in court documents while being a Christian priest.
“.....Strict action must be taken against him to prevent such affidavits from being filed before the Court in the future,” the court said.
It also directed the Cabinet Secretary, Government of India, and the Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh, to look into the matter of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes as well as the provisions of law and act in accordance with law, as mentioned above. Similar directions were issued to the Principal Secretary or Additional Chief Secretary, Minorities Welfare Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, and all District Magistrates in the State to look into the matter and take appropriate action so that the law may be executed in its true sense.
No comments:
Post a Comment