Jamshedpur, March 24 Former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren welcomed the Supreme Court's verdict on the Scheduled Caste status of persons who convert to a faith other than Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism, saying it was aimed at "protecting" members of the community from religious conversion.
In a significant decision, the Supreme Court on Tuesday held that a Scheduled Caste community person converting to a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism loses the SC status from the moment of conversion, regardless of birth.
A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan, which upheld an order of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, said a person belonging to a Scheduled Caste community loses his Scheduled Caste status "immediately and completely" upon conversion to Christianity.
In a post on X, Soren said the decision was aimed at protecting members of the Scheduled Castes from religious conversion.
"Article 341 of the Constitution clearly states that only Dalits from Hindu, Sikh, or Buddhist religions are granted Schedule Caste status, and upon becoming Christian or Muslim, they forfeit all rights provided by the Constitution," the MLA from Jharkhand's Saraikela seat said.
He alleged that those who facilitate religious conversion often hide these facts and lure people through compulsion, inducements or by misleading them for various reasons.
"We firmly believe that when a person severs ties with their roots, betrays their ancestors and abandons centuries-old traditions and lifestyle to move to a new home, they have no right to claim benefits, including reservation, that are exclusively granted for the SC/ST community," Soren added.
The former Jharkhand chief minister expressed hope that the Union government would take cognisance of this issue and bring about necessary amendments to Article 342, "so that the existence of Schedule Tribes, which is facing the impact of religious conversion, can be preserved."