SC terms grant of minority certificate to upper caste Hindu in Haryana as ‘new type of fraud’

The Supreme Court voiced concern over a new type of fraud, that is, involving individuals from dominant upper-caste backgrounds in Haryana, that are converting to Buddhism solely to claim minority reservation benefits, according to reports.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing a petition filed by a resident of Hisar in Haryana, who was seeking admission as a minor candidate on the basis of his claimed Buddhist faith.

The Supreme Court now reportedly sought a report from the chief secretary of Haryana as to how the minority certificates are granted and issued in the state.

 According to the report, during the hearing the CJI, who also hailed from the same place, questioned the petitioner’s social background. Nikhil Kumar Punia, when asked the question, responded that he belonged to the Jaat Punia community, to this the CJI questioned how he then could claim minority status.

Counsel reportedly replied that conversion was his right as he is now converted to buddhism. The CJI sharply reacts, saying that this is a new type of fraud. Although the bench has asked the Haryana chief secretary to place on record the guidelines governing the issuance of minority certificates and to clarify candidates from the upper-caste general category can claim minority status by citing religious conversion.

The bench, reportedly dismissed the plea of Punia, and has kept it for further consideration on this issue of procedures that are adopted in granting minority certificates after the state government submits its responses.