The Congress-ruled Karnataka government has not taken a stance on whether Dalit converts to Christianity or Islam should be eligible for Scheduled Caste (SC) reservations. During the two-day consultation with the Justice K G Balakrishnan Commission, the state remained “uncommitted,” citing that Dalit Christians and Muslims already receive reservation under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.
Other states like Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have supported including Dalit converts under SC reservation. Karnataka, however, offers 4% reservation under Category 2-B for Christian and Muslim converts, while Dalit Muslims can also benefit from OBC quotas in Categories 1 and 2-A. The state was one of the first to extend OBC status to these communities.
Dalit Christian Federation convener Dr. Manohar Chandra Prasad emphasized the national importance of the issue, highlighting ongoing discrimination against Dalit Christians. He argued that including Dalit Christians in SC reservation would provide them security and political representation, akin to what is extended to Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs.