HC says reconversion no hurdle for entitlement of SC benefits

Chennai, Nov 10 (UNI) Madras High Court has ruled that a Dalit born to Hindu parents, who had converted to Christianity after reconversion to Hinduism, was entitled to the benefits provided to SCs.

Allowing a petition by R Shankar, who challenged the rejection of his application for the post of civil judge under the SC quota, by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, a Division Bench comprising Dharma Rao and S K Krishnan observed that the question was whether a person whose ancestors belong to a Hindu Dalit community before conversion to Hinduism could be regarded as an SC on revoversion to Hinduism.

The petitioner, whose predecessors were originally Hindu Adi Dravidas, converted to Christianity, but he had reconverted to Hinduism. His reconversion was recognised by the people belonging to the community.

However, the petitioner claimed that his the right to enjoy the benefits of other SC candidates and eligibility for the post of civil judge under the SC quota, was rejected by the TNPSC.

The petitioner's parents were Hindus before converting to Christianity and therefore his rereconversion to Hinduism was acceptable. Hence, he was entitled to enjoy the rights and benefits enjoyed by other people belonging to SC communities. he submitted.

The Bench said he was entitled to be appointed as civil judge under the SC quota and quashed the TNPSC order commission to appoint him to the vacant post if he was otherwise eleigible.

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