Panel examining SC status for Dalits post-conversion gets a third extension, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• The Centre has extended the tenure of the Commission of Inquiry led by former CJI KG Balakrishnan for the third time.
• The extension is for two months, effective April 11 to June 10, 2026.
• The commission is examining granting Scheduled Caste (SC) status to individuals who have converted to religions other than Hinduism, Christianity, Sikhism, or Buddhism.
• A Supreme Court ruling on March 24 stated that SC status is only available to Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists.

Detailed Insights:

• The Commission of Inquiry was initially appointed in October 2022 for a two-year period to investigate the possibility of granting SC status post-conversion.
• The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 specifies that only individuals professing Hindu, Sikh, or Buddhist religions can be deemed members of a Scheduled Caste.
• Sikhs were included in 1956 and Buddhists in 1990 through legislative amendments to the original 1950 order which initially only included Hindus.
• A case challenging the constitutional validity of the 1950 order is pending before the Supreme Court, with Dalit Christians arguing the restrictions violate religious freedom.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Scheduled Caste (SC): Officially designated group of disadvantaged castes recognized by the Indian Constitution.
• Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950: Presidential order specifying castes deemed as Scheduled Castes under Article 341.
• Religious Conversion: The adoption of a new religion that differs from the convert's previous religion.