The Union government has opposed the Scheduled Caste status for Dalits who converted to Islam and Christianity, contending that the system of untouchability does not exist in the two religions, Live Law reported on Wednesday. https://scroll.in/latest/1037081/untouchability-absent-in-christianity-islam-centre-opposes-sc-status-for-dalit-converts
The Centre has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court in response to a petition by the non-governmental organisation Centre for Public Interest Litigation. The organisation claims that the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order of 1950, which says that only Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs will be considered to be Scheduled Castes, is unconstitutional as it discriminates on grounds of religion.
“The Constitution (Scheduled Caste) Order, 1950 was based on historical data which clearly established that no such backwardness or oppression was ever faced by members of Christian or Islamic society,” the Centre told the court. “In fact, one of the reasons for which people from Scheduled Castes have been converting to religions like Islam or Christianity is so that they can come out of the oppressive system of untouchability which is not prevalent at all in Christianity or Islam.”
10/11/2022