Raichur
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI (M)] has expressed strong opposition to the Supreme Court’s approval of the Andhra Pradesh High Court ruling, which states that a person who converts to Christianity and fully practices the religion cannot be considered a member of the Scheduled Caste community. District Committee Secretary K.G. Veeresh said the order is unacceptable under any circumstances. He argued that reservation benefits and protective measures for Scheduled Castes are based on their social and economic conditions, not merely on religious identity. “By giving priority to religious identity over socio-economic realities, the judgment undermines the very objective of constitutional provisions related to reservation and safeguards,” he stated.
Veeresh further said that the CPI (M) Politburo has demanded a review of the judgment and has urged that the matter be referred to a Constitution Bench for reconsideration.
The party has called for a re-evaluation of the order, emphasizing the need to protect the rights and benefits of marginalized communities in line with the spirit of the Constitution.