special benefits provided under the Indian Constitution for so-called "Scheduled Castes", BosNewsLife learned Wednesday, November 15.
Catholic AsiaNews agency said the Chennai High Court in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu made the ruling in a case concerning a Dalit born to Hindu parents who had converted to Christianity.
R Shankar, had challenged the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission’s rejection of his application to the post of civil judge under the Scheduled Caste quota because of his Christian background. He argued he had “reconverted” to Hinduism and was therefore entitled to the benefits.
Under the Indian constitution Hindu Dalits, the ‘lowest caste’ in India’s ancient system of Hinduism, are allowed to receive benefits provided to members of other “scheduled castes”, including gaining preferential access to government posts and other jobs.
CHRISTIAN PARENTS
The court agreed with R Shanker, saying that although his parents were Christians, he should receive the benefits because of his re-conversion. In a reaction the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India suggested that while R Shanker may be pleased, the ruling is discriminatory towards Dalits who choose to remain Christians.
"The case raises a serious question, namely ‘why talk about rights when two people with the same social status are treated differently on the basis of their religious status’,?" said the Bishops’ Conference Spokesman, Babu Joseph.
India’s Evangelical Christians have argued it is impossible to "reconvert" from Christianity to Hinduism. They say accepting Jesus Christ as "Lord and Savior" has nothing to do with religion, but means having a personal friendship with a living God.
INCREASED PRESSURE
The trial this week came as advocacy groups reported increased pressure on the Christian community in India. One Christian group appealed Tuesday, November 14 to India’s National Commission of Minorities and Ministry of Home Affairs to extend protection for Christians and their institutions across India.
The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) said Christians are facing “persecution” because of their faith in several places in the country, especially in Karnataka state.
Since the change of government in Karnataka in February this year, “there have been sporadic but growing numbers of incidents against Christians in the state,” the group p said in published remarks.
The GCIC noted an increase in attacks since the Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in areas where their followers have a strong presence. The violence includes various attacks against Christians, churches and Christian institutions, the GCIC said. (With BosNewsLife Research and reports from India).
