Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission Report Flawed, Findings Without Field Studies: Center Before Apex Court

In its affidavit filed before the Supreme Court opposing a plea seeking Scheduled Caste status for Scheduled Caste converts to Christianity, the Center has said that Justice Ranganath Misra Commission Report is flawed. The Center has also said that the findings in the said report are without any "field studies".

The affidavit that has been filed by the Under Secretary in the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, on behalf of the Union of India says, "..the report of Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission is flawed since the report bases its findings without ay field studies. The findings of the Commission therefore cannot be corroborated by actual situation on the ground since no field study was done".

The Center has also alleged that the Commission has taken a myopic view of the social milieu in the Country. "The Commission further has taken a myopic view of the social milieu in India and does not contemplate the impact of inclusion in the SC list on present castes listed as Scheduled Castes", the Ministry says in its affidavit.

While opposing the PIL seeking SC status for converts to Christianity, the Center has said that Christianity is an egalitarian religion which does not recognize caste. It states that the criteria followed in deciding whether a caste or community is eligible for inclusion in the list of Scheduled Caste is extreme social, educational and economic backwardness arising out of traditional practices of untouchability practised by Hindus since time immemorial.

The Center has said that there is no documented research and precise authenticated information available to establish that the liabilities and handicaps by SC members in the social order of its origin (Hinduism) persist with the oppressive severity in the environment of Christianity or Islam.

It has contended that untouchability which leads to economic and social backwardness of some Hindu castes was not prevalent in Christian or Islamic Society and that historical data establish the same.

Cause Title: Center For Public Interest Litigation & Anr. v. Union of India