Supreme Court Questions Minority Claim by Upper-Caste Convert in Haryana

The Supreme Court described as a “new type of fraud” a minority claim made by an upper-caste person following religious conversion.

The case arose from a petition filed by a Haryana resident seeking admission to postgraduate studies under the minority category, claiming Buddhist faith despite earlier being recorded in the general category.

The Court questioned whether individuals from socially dominant communities can convert merely on paper to obtain benefits meant for genuine minorities.

The Court dismissed the plea and directed the Haryana Chief Secretary to submit the rules governing issuance of minority certificates and clarify whether such conversions are recognised for granting minority status.