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Panel favours quotas for Dalit converts |
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Written by Correspondent
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Sunday, 14 October 2007 |
 NEW DELHI: In what could be another hot potato for the government, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes has favoured "reserved" status for Dalit converts to Christianity and Islam. The commission had examined the issue at the behest of the government. The awkward opinion also comes with a rider that inclusion of 'Dalit' Christians and Muslims in the SC tent should not encroach on the benefits of those accessing reservations. The new additions should be outside the 15% quota earmarked for SCs. NCSC chairman Buta Singh confirmed the decision to TOI.
This would be a politically and constitutionally fraught decision for the government as any such addition can potentially either breach the 50% quota ceiling fixed by Supreme Court or involve slashing the 27% OBC quota. Both scenarios would confront the government with a hobson's choice. Any attempt to violate the ceiling could run into a judicial wall and reducing the existing OBC share would be politically incendiary.
Also, for a government convulsed by quota issues, the 'neo-Dalit' question is another volatile front. It would expose government to an attack from the Sangh Parivar, which believes that granting reservation benefits to Christians and Muslims will remove the deterrent against conversions. (Source: The Times of India dated 14 October 2007) |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 20 November 2009 )
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