The Madras High Court Bench here has dismissed a writ petition filed by a family that converted to Islam from Hinduism, seeking a direction to the government officials to issue Backward Class (Muslim) certificates.
A Division Bench, comprising Justice R. Sudhakar and Justice V.M. Velumani, rejected the petition, pending in the court since 2007, after recording the government stand that people might convert from one religion to another but not from one caste group to another..
The petitioner, S. Mohamed Bilal of Kovilpatti in Tuticorin, had claimed that he was born to Christian parents and converted to Hinduism in 1993. He converted to Islam along with his wife, two daughters and a son in 2001 and changed their names before applying for BC (Muslim) certificates. However, his application was rejected.
Arguing that petitioner’s counsel had not produced any judgment to substantiate his claim that all converts to Islam were entitled to BC (Muslim) certificates, the judges said that the petitioner could make a fresh application to the revenue authorities if they were able to lay their hands on any such judgment.
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