The All-India United Christians Movement for Equal Rights (AIUCMER) has strongly criticized the exclusion of Scheduled Caste (SC) Christians from reservation benefits, calling it both unconstitutional and communal. During a press conference at Press Club of India in New Delhi on October 11, AIUCMER representatives called for the deletion or amendment of Para 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, which denies SC status to Christians on the basis of religion.
Jose Daniel, President of AIUCMER, emphasized, “The purpose of reservations for SCs was to address the historical social and economic inequalities they faced. Excluding Christian SCs based on their religion is unconstitutional and a grave injustice. We urge the government and judiciary to remove or amend this discriminatory Para 3 to ensure equal rights for all SCs.”
The movement highlighted that SC individuals, regardless of religious conversion, continue to face social discrimination and untouchability. Multiple reports, including those from the Mandal Commission, Minority Commission, High-Level Committee on Scheduled Castes and Tribes, and the RanganathMisra Commission, have recognized the ongoing social exploitation of SC Christians. Even the Supreme Court, in its ruling on the Mandal Commission case, acknowledged that SC individuals face similar challenges irrespective of religious conversion.
Daniel further noted that SC Christians have long demanded the removal or amendment of Para 3 to grant them reservation benefits. However, the recent mandate given to the Justice K.G. Balakrishnan Commission suggests potential changes to the SC list, which AIUCMER opposes. The group believes the real issue is the end of discrimination based on religion.