Order to issue certificates that do not mention caste or religion: SC recommends to Tamil Nadu government
Tamil Nadu : The Madras High Court recommended the Tamil Nadu government to issue an appropriate ordinance to issue certificates of no caste or religion.
Santosh, a resident of Tirupattur district, filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking an order to the Tirupattur Tehsildar to issue a certificate that he has no caste or religion. In his petition, he said that he would not seek any government benefits, including reservation on the basis of caste and religion, for his children.
At that time, the government said that there was no order authorising district magistrates to issue certificates of no caste or religion. Following this, the single judge ordered the dismissal of the petition.
The appeal filed by Santosh against this order came up for hearing before a bench of Justices M.S. Ramesh and N. Senthilkumar on Wednesday.
At that time, advocates S.N. Subramanian and D. Nixon appeared for the petitioner and Selvendran appeared for the government. At that time, the judges noted that Tirupattur, Coimbatore and Ambattur taluks have already issued certificates stating that there is no caste or religion in this regard. They ordered that a similar certificate be issued to the petitioner within a month.
Further, the judges commended the petitioner for having sought a certificate stating that he has no caste or religion, as he is fighting to prevent caste-based discrimination. They directed the Revenue Department officials to issue a certificate stating that he has no caste or religion and recommended that the Tamil Nadu government issue an appropriate government order.
Pointing to the caste and religious discrimination prevailing in the country, the judges said that even though the Constitution prohibits caste-based discrimination, caste and religion still have significance in social life, politics, education and employment.
