In the past few years, incidents of religious conversion have been increasing in the country. Discussions about Christian missionaries and love jihad are frequent. This year, the national census is also being conducted based on caste. It is believed that accurately identifying Dalits and backward classes will facilitate the provision of reservations, which will include everything from jobs to financial concessions. The question arose as to whether a person belonging to a backward caste, who already enjoys reservation benefits within their own religion, would continue to receive all the reservation benefits they previously received if they converted to a minority community, such as Islam or Christianity. The matter went to the judiciary for a decision.
Previously, the Tamil Nadu government had decided that such converts would continue to receive their previous reservation benefits, but the Supreme Court’s final decision has clarified the matter. The court stated that a person who converts from a Hindu social order to a non-Hindu social order cannot claim reservation under Article 16(4) of the Constitution on the basis of their previous social backwardness. It also clarified that converting to Islam would disqualify them from membership in one of the notified Muslim Backward Class communities and all associated reservation benefits. A person can no longer continue to receive the benefits of their pre-conversion caste by joining a backward caste of another religion. When the case went to the Madras High Court, the Tamil Nadu government’s petition was dismissed. From there, the case reached the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court also clarified that the previous reservation will not be restored after conversion. This decision should also be considered very satisfactory for Punjab because a lot of emphasis is being laid on conversion in its border and rural areas, especially in Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Tarn Taran.
It is claimed that healing societies are converting people by claiming to cure incurable diseases. They also offer various allurements, including free medical treatment, foreign travel, and financial assistance. When large-scale conversions began, conflicts erupted. In August 2022, a church in Tarn Taran was vandalized over this issue, and local residents clashed with the priests. At that time, anti-conversion laws were not in place, so religious and social organizations, led by the SGPC’s Amrit Sanchar and Dharam Bachao Morcha, collected 10 million signatures and demanded a strict law to stop conversions.
The RSS and Hindu organizations launched campaigns like the Virsa Sambhal Abhiyan and Ghar Wapsi. Well, now the country’s top court has ruled that if you convert, you will lose your old reservation benefits. We believe this decision needs to be widely publicized to prevent the continued harm to Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist religions. We believe that lack of information also lures people toward the frivolous benefits of those who convert. Some people assume they have it all, believing they can benefit from Christianity, and they already have reservations from the government. The changing landscape should be made public aware that if you change your religion due to financial gain, you will lose the reservation benefits you already enjoy