1 month ago
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HYDERABAD
Christian organisations and civilian rights’ activists person sharply criticised the Supreme Court’s caller verdict denying Scheduled Caste (SC) presumption to Dalits who person to Christianity, calling it a stroke to law values of equality and spiritual freedom.
On Tuesday, the apex tribunal upheld an Andhra Pradesh High Court ruling that lone Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists tin assertion SC identity. Dalits who clasp different religions, including Christianity, volition not beryllium eligible for benefits oregon protections accorded to SCs.
Civil Rights Initiative Internationale (CRII) nationalist president and erstwhile Additional DGP K. Babu Rao, on with its typical Suresh Pulugujju, said that the judgement relies heavy connected the 1950 Presidential Order, without considering existent societal realities.
“This raises important concerns regarding its interaction connected Dalits, peculiarly regarding spiritual freedom,” Mr. Babu Rao observed.
He pointed retired that the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, was enacted aft sedate incidents similar the Karamchedu massacre, wherever astir of the victims were Christians.
Highlighting that astir churches successful Andhra Pradesh are located successful Dalit colonies, with preachers and devotees drawn from these communities, helium argued that caste‑based favoritism persists irrespective of spiritual affiliation.
In the contiguous case, Pastor Anand’s caste certificate has not been formally cancelled, nor has helium officially declared conversion, yet the judgement appears to gully conclusions that whitethorn not align with the factual position.
The CRII person said continued reliance connected the 1950 Presidential Order efficaciously restricts Dalits from freely choosing their religion without losing law protections. Past judicial observations person recognised that caste individuality often persists adjacent aft conversion oregon inter‑religious marriages.
Former Telangana Foods Chairman M. Rajeev Sagar besides condemned the ruling, describing it arsenic “completely contrary to the tone of the Constitution.” He said the verdict undermines Articles 14 and 15, which warrant equality, and Article 25, which ensures spiritual freedom. He stressed that caste favoritism is simply a centuries‑old societal operation that does not vanish with conversion, recalling atrocities specified arsenic Karamchedu and Chunduru to underline the extent of prejudice.
Christian organisations person urged the Centre to record a reappraisal petition and present ineligible and argumentation changes to safeguard Dalit Christian rights, informing that the verdict threatens societal justness and antiauthoritarian values.
