Today, On 28th January, The Supreme Court expressed strong concern after a Jaat Punia man from an upper-caste Hindu background sought minority reservation by converting to Buddhism. Calling it a “new type of fraud,” the Bench questioned the motive behind such conversion.
The Supreme Court raised serious concerns regarding a man from an upper caste Hindu background who sought minority reservation after converting to Buddhism.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi described this move as a “new type of fraud.”
The Court was hearing a petition filed by Nikhil Kumar Punia, who claimed minority status for admission purposes.
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CJI Kant inquired,
“You are a Punia? What minority are you? Let me ask this bluntly now. Which Punia are you?”
The petitioner’s counsel responded,
“Jaat punia,”
The Bench pressed,
“Then how minority?”
The counsel stated,
“Converted to Buddhism. That is my right,”
The CJI, remarked,
“Wow! This is a new type of fraud,”
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The Court then instructed the Haryana government to provide clarity on the guidelines for issuing a minority certificate and to determine if upper caste general category candidates are eligible for minority status by claiming conversion to Buddhism.
The order stated,
“Let the Chief Secretary of Haryana inform: What are the guidelines for issuing a minority certificate? Is it permissible for an upper class general category candidate who is above economically weaker sections of society, especially when they declared themselves as general in the last application, and then declared themselves as Buddhist minority,”
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