The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) MP Maddila Gurumoorthy has written to the Chairperson of the Justice Balakrishnan Commission requesting the inclusion of Dalit Christians under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, to secure constitutional equality, social justice, and statutory protection.
A YSRCP delegation led by Gurumoorthy met the commission’s Chairperson in New Delhi on Saturday, submitting a representation that seeks to extend Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians.
In the letter, Gurumoorthy stated, “I most respectfully submit this representation before the Hon’ble Justice Balakrishnan Commission seeking inclusion of Christians of Scheduled Caste origin within the ambit of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, in furtherance of the constitutional principles of equality, secularism, social justice, and substantive non-discrimination.”
The MP cited a unanimous resolution passed by the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on March 24, 2023, in which former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and the YSR Congress Party acknowledged that Dalit Christians remain socially and economically backward, and recommended their inclusion in the Scheduled Castes list.
Gurumoorthy wrote, “It is pertinent to submit that the former Chief Minister, Shri Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, on behalf of the YSR Congress Party, through a unanimous resolution adopted by the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on 24 March 2023, categorically resolved that Dalit Christians continue to remain socially, educationally, and economically backward to the same extent as Scheduled Castes professing Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism, and accordingly supported their inclusion in the Scheduled Castes list.”
He alleged that Dalit Christians face social, educational, and economic disadvantages similar to other Scheduled Castes despite exclusion based on religion. He noted that conversion to Christianity does not erase caste identity or the historical discrimination experienced by the community.
Gurumoorthy argued, “The continued exclusion of Dalit Christians constitutes an arbitrary religion-based classification lacking any rational nexus with the constitutional object of protective discrimination. Conversion to Christianity has neither extinguished caste identity nor eliminated the historical and continuing social disabilities attached to their caste origin. Despite exercising freedom of religion under Article 25 of the Constitution, Dalit Christians continue to face caste-based exclusion, social segregation, economic deprivation, and institutional discrimination.”
He further stated that this exclusion undermines the constitutional mandate under Article 46, which obliges the State to protect weaker sections from social injustice and exploitation. He claimed that Dalit Christians suffer caste-based disadvantages identical to other Scheduled Castes but remain outside the scope of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, resulting in a legal and statutory gap.
Gurumoorthy asserted, “The present legal position also frustrates the constitutional vision under Article 46, which obligates the State to protect weaker sections from social injustice and exploitation. Despite suffering identical caste-based vulnerabilities, Dalit Christians remain excluded from protection under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 solely on account of religion, thereby creating a serious constitutional and statutory vacuum.”
The MP emphasised that Article 341(2) empowers Parliament to include communities in the Scheduled Castes list, and urged that this authority be exercised in accordance with current social realities and constitutional principles.
He concluded, “It is respectfully submitted that Article 341(2) expressly empowers Parliament to include communities within the Scheduled Castes list by law. The constitutional power vested therein must now be exercised in consonance with contemporary social realities and constitutional morality.”
Courtesy : TNM
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