Reservation on conversion: Balakrishnan Commission will submit report next year, why is NCSC disagreeing with granting SC status to converted Dalits?

According to the recent notification, the new deadline for submission of the Balakrishnan Commission’s report is October 10, 2025.

Geetha Sunil Pillai

New Delhi- National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Chairman Kishore Makwana has strongly opposed granting Scheduled Caste (SC) status to Dalits converted to Christianity and Islam. This statement comes at a time when the central government has extended the term of a high-level commission probing the same issue by one year.

The tenure of the Balakrishnan Commission, which is considering granting Scheduled Caste status to those who convert to religious conversion, has been extended by one year by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. This extension was given through a notification issued on November 1 after the commission sought more time to complete its report.

According to the recent notification, the new deadline for submission of the commission’s report is October 10, 2025. The Commission, set up on 6 October 2022, functions under the Commission of Inquiry Act of 1952.

The Commission of Inquiry, constituted in October 2022 under the chairmanship of former Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, was entrusted with the task of conducting a comprehensive study on granting SC status to converted Dalits. The Commission has been tasked with examining the effects of granting SC status to converted Dalits, studying the changes in their customs, traditions and social status and evaluating their current socio-economic status. Over the last two years, the Commission has held extensive consultations with sociologists, historians, religious leaders and representatives of the affected communities.

The current legal framework under Article 341 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950 allows granting SC status only to persons practising Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism. This limitation has been a subject of debate for decades.

According to a TNIE report, NCSC chairman Makwana strongly opposed the proposed extension, saying that the reservation system is fundamentally based on caste and untouchability in Hindu society. He argues that when individuals convert to other religions, they are no longer part of the Hindu social structure, making them ineligible for SC status. Makwana also expressed concern about diluting the benefits currently available to SC communities and undermining the Pune Pact and the legacy of Dr B.R. Ambedkar.

A 1950 presidential order states that only Dalits from Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist communities can be considered for inclusion in the Scheduled Caste list.

Makwana’s statement is particularly significant as it coincides with the government’s decision to extend the Balakrishnan Commission’s term till October 2024. The commission’s work has become even more important given the ongoing national debate on social justice and religious conversion. Sources familiar with the commission’s work say it is closely recording statements and evidence from various stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the issue.

The political dimensions of the issue remain complex. The ruling BJP is opposed to granting SC status to Christian and Muslim converts. Various Dalit organisations have been advocating for more inclusive SC status criteria. They argue that religious conversion does not erase the social and economic difficulties faced by these communities.

Historically, previous governments have set up several committees to examine the issue, but concrete policy changes have not materialised. The Balakrishnan Commission’s extended tenure provides an opportunity for a deeper examination of this complex issue, although the NCSC’s firm opposition indicates that building consensus may be challenging.

Balakrishnan Commission: Historical Background

The central government in 2022 constituted an important commission under the chairmanship of former Chief Justice and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission K.G. Balakrishnan. This three-member commission also includes retired IAS officer Dr. Ravindra Kumar Jain and UGC member Professor Sushma Yadav. The commission has been given the task of submitting its report in two years.

The main objective of the commission is to examine whether Dalits converted to religions other than Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism can be given Scheduled Caste status. The commission will study the changes in the social, cultural and economic status of Dalits after conversion. In this, a detailed analysis of their traditions, customs and discrimination status will be done.

Currently, only Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhist communities have SC status under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950. Initially this order was limited to the Hindu community only, later Sikhs were included in 1956 and Buddhists in 1990.

Since 1990, several attempts have been made to grant SC status to Muslim and Christian Dalits. Several private bills were introduced in Parliament and a government bill was also prepared in 1996, but it could not be introduced in Parliament due to differences. The UPA government of Manmohan Singh constituted two important committees on the issue – the Ranganath Mishra Commission (2004) and the Rajinder Sachar Committee (2005).

The Ranganath Mishra Commission recommended in its report in 2007 that the SC status be completely delinked from religion and made secular like the Scheduled Tribes. The Sachar Committee found that there was no improvement in the socio-economic condition of Dalit Muslims and Christians even after conversion. In 2011, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and the National Commission for Minorities also recommended SC status to Dalit Muslims and Christians in affidavits filed in the Supreme Court.

The Balakrishnan Commission is a historic step for the social justice framework of India. This is the first time this complex issue is being examined under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952. The commission’s recommendations will impact not only the question of SC status but also the broader debate on the relationship of caste, religion and constitutional rights in modern India.

Courtesy : Hindi News