SC Quota for Dalit Muslims and Christians

Why in the News?

Government planning to set up a national commission to study the social, economic and educational status of members of Scheduled Castes, or Dalits, who converted to religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism.

Key Points: 

Background

• • The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order,1950 under Article 341 stipulates that only persons from Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism can get a Scheduled Caste reservation. 
  • But,  many petitions are pending in Supreme Court for SC reservation benefits for Dalits who converted to Christianity or Islam.
  • The rationale behind giving reservations to SCs was that these sections had suffered discrimination, which was practised among Hindus.

• Brief timeline:

• • 1950: Under Art 341 of the Constitution the first order was issued in 1950 and covered only Hindus.
  • 1956: Sikh communities were included among the beneficiaries of the SC quota.
  • 1990: The government acceded to a similar demand from Buddhists of Dalit origin.

Government’s response:

• The Government of India is all set to constitute a National Commission to study the social, economic and educational status of members of Scheduled Castes or Dalits who converted to religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism.
• The commission will also study the impact of adding more members to the current SC list.

Panels set by the Government:

• The National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities (Ranganath Mishra Commission) 2004: 
• • It recommended that SC status should be completely de-linked from religion and it should be made fully religion neutral like scheduled Tribes.
  • However, the then government rejected the proposal on grounds that it was not substantiated by field studies. 
• Sachar committee: It observed that the social and economic situation of Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians did not improve after conversion.