NCC Leaders Meet with Former CJI, Justice KG Balakrishnan
On November 11, 2024, leaders of the National Christian Council (NCC) met with former Chief Justice of India, Justice KG Balakrishnan, at his residence in Delhi. The delegation submitted a formal request to the Commission, urging that the 1950 Presidential Order on the Constitution Amendment be amended to extend Scheduled Caste (SC) reservation benefits to Christian converts. Alternatively, the delegation called for the removal of the religious clause in the order.
The Indian government has established a commission chaired by Justice KG Balakrishnan to study whether SC reservations should continue for converts to Christianity. For more details on the government order, please visit: www.nationalcouncil.in/govtorders/justicekgbcommission.pdf This commission has one year from now to assess the issue and submit its report.
The delegation, led by NCC Founder President Dr. Sam Paul Kolakaluri, included NCC AP State President Dr. B. George Muller, AP State General Secretary Bro. O. Manoj, AP State Secretary Rev. Dr. Boddu David Raju, West Godavari District President Rev. A Sambob, Delhi Women's Leader Smt. Savitri Rao, and Pastor Amit Syam from Uttar Pradesh. They discussed in detail with Justice Balakrishnan, highlighting the ongoing discrimination faced by SC individuals even after their conversion. They presented how these individuals continue to suffer threats and humiliation, especially in rural areas and towns of both Telugu States, due to their religious beliefs.
Justice Balakrishnan expressed his outrage at such acts, particularly by Tahsildars, MROs, or any revenue agency, asserting that religion is a personal choice for everyone, including those holding SC certificates. He emphasized that such surveys or threats must cease.
The delegation also brought up the practice of issuing BC-C certificates to converts to Christianity and BC-E certificates to converts to Islam, a practice that surprised Justice Balakrishnan. He shared his experience of extensive travel in states like Kerala and Gujarat, where he had not encountered such practices.
The two resolutions passed by the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly, first under the leadership of the late Chief Minister Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, and later under Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu from Amaravati, were also mentioned. These resolutions, sent to the President of India, have not yet been acted upon.
The delegation further referenced a private member’s bill introduced by Member of Parliament Shri Lagadapati Rajagopal. He argued that SC converts to Christianity should be granted SC reservations. Rajagopal explained that Maremma and Mariyamma are both sisters and when Mariyamma converted to Christianity, he stated that there is no socio economic change whatsoever and that he toured his constituency extensively and, based on his extensive tours of his constituency where he found that there was no socio-economic change after conversion. Justice Balakrishnan listened attentively to the delegation and appreciated the information presented.
The delegation also cited precedents from the Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission, the National Commission for Minorities, the National Commission for SC/ST Welfare, and other reports, all of which recommended extending reservations to SC converts to Christianity. They emphasized the severe impact on converts who miss out on government scholarships, jobs, promotions, loans, and other benefits due to their choice of faith. The delegation submitted that National Christian Council constituency of leaders, members and several other organisations echo the findings of these Comissions that SC Reservations should be extended to the converts of Christianity.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur Asma Jahangir’s findings were also presented, particularly her reports on the double discrimination faced by SC individuals in India. The delegation highlighted that the discrimination against converts violates the spirit of the Indian Constitution, specifically Article 16, which guarantees equal opportunities in employment regardless of religion.
Justice Balakrishnan assured the delegation that the commission would prepare an impartial report, and the government would make necessary decisions based on the commission’s findings.
After detailed presentations and discussions, the delegation submitted a formal statement on behalf of NCC’s 28 states and 17 wings, representing leaders from across the country. A copy of the submission can be viewed here: www.nationalcouncil.in/wings/legal/justicekgb11nov24.pdf
