Tamil Nadu: DMK Govt To Bring Resolution Urging Central Government To Provide Scheduled Caste Status To Adi Dravidars Converted To Christianity

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government plans to bring a resolution in the state assembly urging the central government to provide Scheduled Caste (SC) status to Adi Dravidars who have converted to Christianity.

The Adi Dravidars are a Dalit community found all over the state. The name Adi Dravidar, which translates to 'original inhabitants of the land', came to be used because it was felt by certain community leaders that the original name of the community, i.e., Paraiyar had negative connotations and it sounded similar to the English word 'pariah'.

This comes after the Andhra Pradesh government of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy moved a similar resolution urging the Centre to include Dalit Christians in the SC list.

The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, as amended from time to time, says no person professing a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism shall be deemed to be a member of a Scheduled Caste (SC).

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court heard a batch of pleas asking for SC status to be extended to Dalits who have converted to Christianity and Islam.

The petitioners said the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 is discriminatory and violative of Articles 14 (equality before law) and 15 (prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, etc) of the Constitution as it discriminates against Scheduled Caste converts to religions other than Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism.

The Centre in an affidavit to the Court claimed that the 1950 Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order was legal and valid, and did not suffer from any unconstitutionality.

Also Read: Quotas For Muslim And Christian Dalits: Will SC Now Be A Party To Dismantling Hinduism?