In a significant victory for the Scheduled Caste (SC) Mala community, the government has revoked the SC certificates issued to T. Lakshmana Rao and his family, who had converted to Christianity. This decisive action comes after a long-standing campaign by the villagers of Vemulapalem in Gudur Mandal, SPS Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh. Based on the reports from Organiser, the villagers had petitioned against the illegal establishment of a church, expressing concerns about the conversion of Lakshmana Rao and his family, which they claimed had led to ongoing sound pollution from religious activities, causing social unrest in the area.
The initial complaints were filed by Dattam Srinivasulu and Mocherla Mahesh in September 2021, focusing on the unauthorized church and the conversions targeting the SC community. The revocation of the SC certificates marks a crucial success for the villagers, who had approached the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) to highlight their concerns. In their letter to the NCSC, the villagers noted that the public records of their village showed no Christians, but that Mr. Tiranam Swati Kumar and his family had recently converted to Christianity. They further alleged that the family had turned their home into an unauthorized church and were conducting daily prayer services without proper permissions, as required under Andhra Pradesh’s building regulations.
Despite numerous complaints to local authorities, including the Tahsildar and District Collector, the villagers’ appeals were initially ignored. However, their persistence led the District Collector to instruct the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) to investigate. An enquiry by the Tahsildar confirmed the villagers’ claims, and a report was submitted in December 2023 to the District Level Scrutiny Committee (DLSC), recommending the cancellation of the SC certificates. The report reaffirmed that these benefits are reserved for those who genuinely belong to the SC community.
The Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF), a legal advocacy group, supported the villagers in their fight for justice. The cancellation of the SC certificates has been celebrated as a victory for the Vemulapalem villagers, highlighting the importance of collective action in addressing illegal practices and religious coercion. MK Nagaraju, President of the SC/ST Rights Forum, a wing of LRPF, emphasized the need for accountability and warned that action would be sought against officials who wrongfully issued the SC certificates. He also referenced a circular from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, which mandates penalties and imprisonment for officials who wilfully or carelessly issue SC certificates to ineligible persons.
This victory not only restores the rights of the SC community but also reinforces the necessity of upholding legal standards in protecting marginalized groups from exploitation and misuse of benefits.
In recent times, numerous conversion rackets have been uncovered across Bharat, with a common tactic of preying on vulnerable Hindu families, often targeting the less educated and those facing health crises. The recent arrests in Ghaziabad, where individuals were caught luring families into conversion with false promises of wealth and health, reflect a growing concern. Such incidents highlight the urgent need for stricter legal measures and vigilant community efforts to curb forced conversions and safeguard religious freedom. The timely intervention by authorities in these cases is a positive step, but consistent enforcement and awareness are crucial to prevent further exploitation.
In this case, the fraudulent issuance of Scheduled Caste (SC) certificates, particularly after the conversion of T. Lakshmana Rao and his family to Christianity, highlights a critical issue of holding onto caste-based privileges despite religious conversion. The revocation of these certificates by the government is a significant victory for the SC Mala community, ensuring that the benefits meant for genuine SC members are not misused by those who no longer qualify due to conversion. This decisive action sets a precedent for more stringent checks on caste certificate issuance, especially in cases involving religious conversion.
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