Supreme Court Halts Disqualification of Panchayat Chairperson Over SC Status and Religion Row

The Supreme Court has stayed a Madras High Court order that upheld the disqualification of a Theroor Town Panchayat Chairperson from an SC-reserved seat on the grounds of professing Christianity. 

The High Court had relied on her baptism certificate and marriage under the Indian Christian Marriage Act to hold that she lost Scheduled Caste status, terming her claim a fraud on the Constitution.

The Court said conversion ended her Hindu identity under Article 25. The Court also criticised the misuse of the SC status in elections. Challenging this, the petitioner argued she never abandoned Hinduism. 

The Supreme Court has now issued notice and stayed the disqualification.

[V Amutha Rani v Iyyappan And Ors