Devendra Fadnavis Vows to Revoke SC Status for Non-Hindu Communities

• Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis vowed to revoke SC certificates of individuals from religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism if obtained fraudulently.
• State to introduce stringent anti-conversion laws against forced or deceitful religious conversions, based on DGP-led committee recommendations.
• BJP leaders highlighted misuse of reservations by "crypto Christians" and coercive conversions, prompting strong legislative response from the government.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that if an individual belonging to a religion other than Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh has fraudulently procured a Scheduled Caste certificate, it will be revoked.

Action would be initiated against such an individual if he or she has availed of reservation benefits like government employment. If the person has been elected to office by posing with a fraudulently obtained SC certificate, their election will be voided, said Mr Fadnavis in the legislative council.

In response to a 'calling attention' notice, he also stated the state government will introduce robust provisions to handle instances of religious conversion by coercion and deceit.

Amit Gorkhe of the BJP had asserted that religious freedom was being abused by 'crypto Christians', and there are individuals who gain from reservations against the SC category while adopting other religions. `Crypto Christians' was a clear allusion to individuals who practice Christianity secretly but are of another religion on paper.

At first glance, they are an SC community member and receive benefits such as government jobs, he had stated. Mr Fadnavis stated on November 26, 2024, the Supreme Court delivered a judgment in which it explained that the Scheduled Castes reservation can only be taken by Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs, and not by others.

"If anyone from other religions than Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism has taken an SC certificate or reservation, their caste certificates and validity certificates will be revoked with proper procedure. If anyone has benefited through things such as government posts, action will be initiated against them", he stated.

"Recovery (of money benefits) will be suggested from those who have taken benefits on the basis of fraudulently got caste certificates", he added.

BJP leader Chitra Wagh explained that there have been instances where women were tricked into marriage by not revealing the religion of the husband. She mentioned a case of a woman who married into a family that clandestinely practiced Christianity in Sangli. The woman was tortured and made to convert her religion, which resulted in her death at the age of seven months, pregnant at the time, she added.

An individual can adopt any faith and convert another individual with free will, but law does not allow force, deception or inducement for conversion, the chief minister stated. "Complaints of coercion or inducement for conversion will result in inquiry and action against the concerned organisation", Mr Fadnavis further added.

The state government had constituted a committee led by the Director General of Police (DGP) for making recommendations to handle such cases, and it has sent its report, he added. The government will examine it and introduce new (legal) provisions so that conversions do not occur under coercion or deception, he said.

"In such cases, action can be initiated under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). But a committee was constituted to propose stringent provisions. The state government has plans to introduce strong provisions for handling such cases, and we will be taking a decision on this shortly", he added.

Earlier, on Monday, Minister of State for Home Pankaj Bhoyar had announced that the state will introduce an anti-conversion law during the winter session of the legislature and it would be tougher than other similar legislations in other states.

Pravin Darekar from the BJP alleged a clandestine drive to entice individuals into conversion was being conducted in slums and poor localities. CM Fadnavis accepted that these things do happen in slums. But he told that the government has no plan to prohibit religious conversions which are done consensually.