Visit www.apchristiannews.com . AP Christian News is a Christian Website in Telugu Script with Messages, Audio Messages, Audio Songs, Videos, Prayers Requests and many more.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
AP CHRISTIAN NEWS
Visit www.apchristiannews.com . AP Christian News is a Christian Website in Telugu Script with Messages, Audio Messages, Audio Songs, Videos, Prayers Requests and many more.
Friday, March 11, 2011
యాత్రికుని ప్రయాణము (The Pilgrim's Progress)
యాత్రికుని ప్రయాణము అనే ఈ పుస్తకము ప్రపంచవ్యాప్తంగా ఎంతో ప్రాచుర్యము పొంది అనేకమంది ఆత్మీయజీవితానికి ఒక చుక్కానిలా నిలిచింది అనటంలో ఎటువంటి సందేహం లేదు. ఇంగ్లాండ్ కు చెందినా జాన్బన్యన్ ఈ పుస్తకాన్ని క్రీ. శ. 1672 వ సంవత్సరంలో జైలు నందు గడుపుచూ వ్రాసెను. క్రైస్తవ ఆత్మీయజీవితములో ఎదుర్కొను సవాళ్లు, సాతాను కలిగించు అవరోధాలు, అడ్డంకులు, వాటిని ఎదుర్కోనవలసినఉపాయాలు చిట్టా చివరికి చేరుకోవలసిన గమ్యము గూర్చి ఊహాజనితంగా అందరికీ తేలికగా అర్ధమయ్యేరీతిలో ఒక యాత్రీకుని ప్రయాణమును సాద్రుశ్యముగా తీసుకుని అతడు సాగించిన ప్రమాద భరితప్రయాణము, తానూ వాంచించిన దేశమునకు క్షేమముగా చేరుకున్న క్రమము అన్వేషనాయుతముగావివరించబడినది. ప్రతీ క్రైస్తవుడు ఆత్మీయ జీవితములో ఉన్నత శిఖరాలను అధిరోహించాటానికి క్రీస్తుకుమరింత దగ్గరగా జీవించటానికి ఈ పుస్తకం సహాయ పడుతుంది అనటంలో ఎటువంటి సందేహము లేదు. క్రిస్టియన్ బుక్ డిస్ట్రిబుటర్స్ , హైదరాబాద్ వారు ఈ పుస్తకాన్ని తెలుగులోకి అనువదించి అందిస్తున్నారు. ప్రతీఒక్కరూ పొంది మీరును ఆత్మీయంగా బలపడాలని మేము ఆశిస్తున్నాము.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
మన భీమవరంలో కల్వరి మహోత్సవములు
కల్వరి మిషన్ ఆధ్వర్యంలో కల్వరి మహోత్సవములు మన భీమవరంలో మార్చ్ 1,2,3 తేదీలలో జరగనున్నాయి. స్థానిక లూథరన్ హై స్కూల్ గ్రౌండ్స్ నందు ఏర్పాటు చేసిన ప్రాంగణంలో ఈ సభలు జరగనున్నాయి. కల్వరి మిషన్ వ్యవస్థాపకులు అయిన Dr. P. సతీష్ కుమార్ గారు 3 రోజులపాటు వాక్య పరిచర్య చేస్తారు. అతి చిన్న వయసులో దేవునికి సమర్పించుకుని ప్రపంచ వ్యాప్తంగా ఆత్మలను దేవుని వద్దకు నడిపిస్తున్న దైవ జనులుగా పేరున్న సతీష్ కుమార్ భీమవరంలో సభలు నిర్వహించాలని స్థానికంగా అనేకమంది ఎప్పటినుంచో ఎదురుచూస్తుండగా ఇన్నాళ్ళకు వారి కోరిక ఫలించి భీమవరంలో సభలు జరుగుతున్నాయి. భీమవరం మరియు భీమవరం పరిసర ప్రాంతాలనుండి సుమారు 50,000 ఫై చిలుకు ప్రజలు ఈ సభలకు హాజరు కానున్నారని ఒక అంచనా. అయితే అంత మందికి సరిపడా స్థలం లేకపోవటంతో అనేకమంది దూరంనుంచి వినటం ద్వార మాత్రమే సరిపెట్టుకోవలసిన పరిస్థితి. అయితే ఈ సంఖ్య ఇంకా పెరిగే అవకాశాలు కనిపిస్తున్నాయి. ఈ అవకాశాన్ని ప్రతి ఒక్కరూ సద్వినియోగం చేసుకుని ఆధ్యాత్మికంగా మరింత బలపడాలని www.apchristiannews.com తరపున దేవుని ప్రార్దిస్తున్నాము.Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Christians 'let down' by Somasekhara report on church attacks
In a blatant display of bias, the judicial commission probing the 2008 church attacks in Karnataka has given a "clean chit" to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Sangh Parivar outfits.
The Justice BK Somasekhara Commission, which submitted its report to Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa on Friday, said there was "no basis to the apprehension of Christian petitioners that the BJP and the Sangh Parivar were directly or indirectly involved in the attacks."
The attacks, it said, were carried out by "misguided fundamentalist miscreants of defined or undefined groups or organisations against Christians and Christianity who have mistakenly presumed that they would be protected by the party in power with the policies at the relevant time".
The commission recommended the government to enact a legislation to ensure prevention of atrocities on any person in the name of religion and to ensure protection to all.
The 2008 violence was a wave of attacks directed against Christian churches and prayer halls allegedly by members of the Sangh Parivar. Over 20 churches and several prayer halls in Mangalore, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Kolar and other small districts in Karnataka were attacked.
BK Somasekhara, a former judge, was assigned to inquire into the sequence of events and circumstances that led to the attack.
The Catholic Church in Bangalore has meanwhile has cried foul over the report saying it did not do justice to the minority community.
"The commission has very badly let down the Christian community and the entire community is disappointed and feel the report is unfair," vicar general S Jagayanathan said in a statement in Bangalore.
"The report had said some incidents of attacks are true. If they were true, why the commission had failed to name those who responsible for these attacks," he asked.
He said it was disheartening that the Commission gave a clean chit to the accused in spite of presenting video-clippings and supporting documents on the attacks against churches, as reported by the Press Trust of India.
Bangalore-based Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) as well has expressed disappointment at the report which it said was a "bundle of lies intended mainly to mislead and confuse the people of Karnataka."
The final report it charged was completely contrary to the commission’s interim report submitted last year implicating the police and the Sangh Parivar activists.
"This was also a colossal waste of time, energy, money and man-power on the part of the government and the members of various institutions, organizations as well as individuals, during the last two years," GCIC said. “It is indeed a great fraud systematically played on the innocent and peace-loving Christians.”
"The National Human Rights Commission, the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission and many other human rights organizations cutting across religious and party lines in the state have indicted the state government and the Sangh Parivar outfits with facts and figures," the advocacy group added.
Justice BK Somasekhara commission was set up in October 2008 and had before it a total of 1500 petitions.
The Justice BK Somasekhara Commission, which submitted its report to Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa on Friday, said there was "no basis to the apprehension of Christian petitioners that the BJP and the Sangh Parivar were directly or indirectly involved in the attacks."
The attacks, it said, were carried out by "misguided fundamentalist miscreants of defined or undefined groups or organisations against Christians and Christianity who have mistakenly presumed that they would be protected by the party in power with the policies at the relevant time".
The commission recommended the government to enact a legislation to ensure prevention of atrocities on any person in the name of religion and to ensure protection to all.
The 2008 violence was a wave of attacks directed against Christian churches and prayer halls allegedly by members of the Sangh Parivar. Over 20 churches and several prayer halls in Mangalore, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Kolar and other small districts in Karnataka were attacked.
BK Somasekhara, a former judge, was assigned to inquire into the sequence of events and circumstances that led to the attack.
The Catholic Church in Bangalore has meanwhile has cried foul over the report saying it did not do justice to the minority community.
"The commission has very badly let down the Christian community and the entire community is disappointed and feel the report is unfair," vicar general S Jagayanathan said in a statement in Bangalore.
"The report had said some incidents of attacks are true. If they were true, why the commission had failed to name those who responsible for these attacks," he asked.
He said it was disheartening that the Commission gave a clean chit to the accused in spite of presenting video-clippings and supporting documents on the attacks against churches, as reported by the Press Trust of India.
Bangalore-based Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) as well has expressed disappointment at the report which it said was a "bundle of lies intended mainly to mislead and confuse the people of Karnataka."
The final report it charged was completely contrary to the commission’s interim report submitted last year implicating the police and the Sangh Parivar activists.
"This was also a colossal waste of time, energy, money and man-power on the part of the government and the members of various institutions, organizations as well as individuals, during the last two years," GCIC said. “It is indeed a great fraud systematically played on the innocent and peace-loving Christians.”
"The National Human Rights Commission, the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission and many other human rights organizations cutting across religious and party lines in the state have indicted the state government and the Sangh Parivar outfits with facts and figures," the advocacy group added.
Justice BK Somasekhara commission was set up in October 2008 and had before it a total of 1500 petitions.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
సిలువను గూర్చిన సువార్త (Gospel)
Rev. E. Bapanayya, B.A., B.Th.
AELC, Vegeswarapuram.
దేవుని ర‌క్ష‌ణ వార్త‌ను తెలుసుకొనుచు విశ్వాస‌ములో ఎదుగుతున్న వారికంద‌రికి ప్ర‌భువైన యేసుక్రీస్తు నామ‌ములో శుభ‌ములు వంద‌న‌ములు తెలియ‌చేసుకొంటున్నాము. ప్ర‌స్తుత స‌మాజంలో దేవుడు ఇచ్చిన జ్ఞానాన్ని బ‌ట్టి వివిధ ర‌కాలైన టెక్నాల‌జీల ద్వారా సువార్త సందేశ‌ములు అందించ‌బ‌డుతున్నాయి. అదేవిధముగా ఇంట‌ర్‌నెట్ ద్వారా కూడా సువార్త అందించ‌బ‌డుతుంది. అయితే తెలుగులో దేవుని ర‌క్ష‌ణ సువార్త‌ను అందించాల‌నే మా ఈ ప్ర‌య‌త్నం అనేకమంది యేసుక్రీస్తుని సొంత ర‌క్ష‌కునిగా అంగీక‌రించ‌టానికి స‌హాయ‌ప‌డులాగున ప్రార్ద‌న చేస్తున్నాము.
శిలువ‌ను గూర్చిన వార్త సువార్త (1 కొరింథీ 1 - 18)
ఈ రోజుల్లో అనేకమంది అనేక ప‌ద్ద‌తుల ద్వారా సువార్త ను ప్ర‌క‌టిస్తున్నారు. సువార్త ను ప్ర‌క‌టించ‌టంలో ఒక్కొక్క‌రు ఒక్కొక్క style క‌న‌ప‌రుస్తూ ఉంటారు. అయితే ఎవరు ఏ విధంగా చెప్పినా సువార్త అనేది మ‌నుష్యుని ర‌క్షించేది, శ‌క్తిని ఇచ్చేది, జ్ఞాన‌మును ఇచ్చేది మరియు పోషించేది. అపోస్త‌లుడైన పౌలు యొక్క విశ్వాశ‌ములో మంచి సువార్త ప్ర‌క‌టించ‌డం అనేది శిలువ‌ను గూర్చిన వార్త సువార్త
సువార్త ప్ర‌క‌ట‌న అన‌గా (1 కొరింథీ 1-17)
ఇంగ్లీష్ లో ఇవాంజ‌లైజ్ అన్నారు. అన‌గా సువార్త అనే వ‌ల వేసి ప‌ట్టుకొనుట. దేవుని గూర్చిన వార్త ఆయ‌న‌ను న‌మ్మువారిని ర‌క్షిస్తుంది. ఇది ఆయ‌న ముఖ్య సంక‌ల్పం. సువార్త ప్ర‌క‌ట‌న చేయ‌డం అన‌గా సాక్ష్య‌ము చెప్ప‌టం. ప్ర‌భువైన యేసు క్రీస్తు మీరు వెళ్ళి స‌ర్వ సృష్టికి సువార్త‌ను చెప్ప‌మ‌న్నాడు (మార్కు 16 - 15). సువార్త ప్ర‌క‌ట‌న అనేది ప్రతీ క్రైస్త‌వుని జీవితములో ఖ‌చ్చితంగా ఆచ‌రించ‌వ‌ల‌సిన ప్ర‌క్రియ అయి ఉన్న‌ది.
సువార్త అన‌గా శిలువ‌ను గూర్చి ప్ర‌క‌టించ‌డం
శిలువ‌ను చూడ‌గానే ప్ర‌భువైన యేసుక్రీస్తు మ‌ర‌ణ, పున‌రుథ్థాన‌ములు గుర్తుకు వ‌స్తాయి. ఆయ‌న మ‌ర‌ణం మన పాప‌ముల కొరకు ఆయ‌న చేసిన త్యాగం. మన కొరకు ఆయ‌న చూపిన శ‌క్తి. సువార్త అనేది క్రైస్త‌వులు సిగ్గుప‌డ‌వ‌ల‌సిన విష‌యం కాదు. అందుకే పౌలు అంటాడు సువార్త‌ను గూర్చి నేను సిగ్గుప‌డువాడ‌ను కాను. ఏల‌య‌న‌గా న‌మ్ము ప్ర‌తివానికి, మొద‌ట యూదునికి, గ్రీసు దేశ‌స్తునికి కూడ ర‌క్ష‌ణ క‌లుగ‌చేయుట‌కు అది దేవుని శ‌క్తియై యున్న‌ది.(రోమా 1-16)
శిలువ‌ను గూర్చిన వార్త న‌మ్మిన ప్ర‌తివానికి ర‌క్ష‌ణ, దేవుని శ‌క్తి. న‌శించువారికి అన‌గా న‌మ్మ‌ని వారికి వెఱ్ఱిత‌న‌ము. న‌మ్మి విశ్వ‌సించువాడు ర‌క్షింప‌బ‌డును.
హృద‌య‌ముతో వినువాడు విశ్వ‌సిస్తాడు. విశ్వ‌సించిన ప్ర‌తివాడు జీవిస్తాడు.
ఆమెన్‌.
శిలువ‌ను గూర్చిన వార్త సువార్త (1 కొరింథీ 1 - 18)
ఈ రోజుల్లో అనేకమంది అనేక ప‌ద్ద‌తుల ద్వారా సువార్త ను ప్ర‌క‌టిస్తున్నారు. సువార్త ను ప్ర‌క‌టించ‌టంలో ఒక్కొక్క‌రు ఒక్కొక్క style క‌న‌ప‌రుస్తూ ఉంటారు. అయితే ఎవరు ఏ విధంగా చెప్పినా సువార్త అనేది మ‌నుష్యుని ర‌క్షించేది, శ‌క్తిని ఇచ్చేది, జ్ఞాన‌మును ఇచ్చేది మరియు పోషించేది. అపోస్త‌లుడైన పౌలు యొక్క విశ్వాశ‌ములో మంచి సువార్త ప్ర‌క‌టించ‌డం అనేది శిలువ‌ను గూర్చిన వార్త సువార్త
సువార్త ప్ర‌క‌ట‌న అన‌గా (1 కొరింథీ 1-17)
ఇంగ్లీష్ లో ఇవాంజ‌లైజ్ అన్నారు. అన‌గా సువార్త అనే వ‌ల వేసి ప‌ట్టుకొనుట. దేవుని గూర్చిన వార్త ఆయ‌న‌ను న‌మ్మువారిని ర‌క్షిస్తుంది. ఇది ఆయ‌న ముఖ్య సంక‌ల్పం. సువార్త ప్ర‌క‌ట‌న చేయ‌డం అన‌గా సాక్ష్య‌ము చెప్ప‌టం. ప్ర‌భువైన యేసు క్రీస్తు మీరు వెళ్ళి స‌ర్వ సృష్టికి సువార్త‌ను చెప్ప‌మ‌న్నాడు (మార్కు 16 - 15). సువార్త ప్ర‌క‌ట‌న అనేది ప్రతీ క్రైస్త‌వుని జీవితములో ఖ‌చ్చితంగా ఆచ‌రించ‌వ‌ల‌సిన ప్ర‌క్రియ అయి ఉన్న‌ది.
సువార్త అన‌గా శిలువ‌ను గూర్చి ప్ర‌క‌టించ‌డం
శిలువ‌ను చూడ‌గానే ప్ర‌భువైన యేసుక్రీస్తు మ‌ర‌ణ, పున‌రుథ్థాన‌ములు గుర్తుకు వ‌స్తాయి. ఆయ‌న మ‌ర‌ణం మన పాప‌ముల కొరకు ఆయ‌న చేసిన త్యాగం. మన కొరకు ఆయ‌న చూపిన శ‌క్తి. సువార్త అనేది క్రైస్త‌వులు సిగ్గుప‌డ‌వ‌ల‌సిన విష‌యం కాదు. అందుకే పౌలు అంటాడు సువార్త‌ను గూర్చి నేను సిగ్గుప‌డువాడ‌ను కాను. ఏల‌య‌న‌గా న‌మ్ము ప్ర‌తివానికి, మొద‌ట యూదునికి, గ్రీసు దేశ‌స్తునికి కూడ ర‌క్ష‌ణ క‌లుగ‌చేయుట‌కు అది దేవుని శ‌క్తియై యున్న‌ది.(రోమా 1-16)
శిలువ‌ను గూర్చిన వార్త న‌మ్మిన ప్ర‌తివానికి ర‌క్ష‌ణ, దేవుని శ‌క్తి. న‌శించువారికి అన‌గా న‌మ్మ‌ని వారికి వెఱ్ఱిత‌న‌ము. న‌మ్మి విశ్వ‌సించువాడు ర‌క్షింప‌బ‌డును.
హృద‌య‌ముతో వినువాడు విశ్వ‌సిస్తాడు. విశ్వ‌సించిన ప్ర‌తివాడు జీవిస్తాడు.
ఆమెన్‌.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
పాస్టర్ పై దాడి- పట్టించుకోని పోలీసులు
జనవరి 14, 2011 : క్రైస్తవ సోదరులపై కొందరు వ్యక్తులు దాడి చేసి కొట్టినట్టుగా apchristiannews.com దృష్టికి వచ్చింది. వివరాల్లోకి వెళితే పాస్టర్ స్వామి దాసు తన భార్యతో పాటు మరి కొందరి క్రైస్తవ విస్వాసులతో కలసి ఆంధ్ర ప్రదేశ్ లోని నిజామాబాదు జిల్లాలోని కామారెడ్డి నందు కలసి ప్రార్ధన చేసుకొంటూ ఉండగా గుర్తు తెలియని కొందరు వ్యక్తులు గదిలోనికి ప్రవేశించి వారిపై దురుసుగా వ్యవహరించి వారిని బయటకు గెంటివేయటం జరిగింది. దానితో వారు ఇంటికి తిరిగి వెల్లిపొవుచుండగా మార్గ మాద్యమం లో సుమారు 70 మంది గుర్తు తెలియని వ్యక్తులు కాపు కాచి పాస్టర్ యొక్క బృందాన్ని అటకాయించి కొట్టి గాయపరచినట్టుగా తెలిసింది. ఇదే విషయమై బాధితులు నిజామాబాదు జిల్లాలోని తాడువాయి పోలీసు స్టేషన్ నందు కంప్లైంట్ చేయటానికి ప్రయత్నించగా అదే జిల్లాకు చెందిన రాష్ట్ర రాజకీయ నాయకుడొకరు ఇరు వర్గాలు రాజీ చేసుకుంటారు అన్న వంకతో కేసు నమోదు కాకుండా అడ్డుపడినట్లు తెలిసింది. సంబంధిత విషయమై apchristiannews.com తీవ్ర విచారాన్ని వ్యక్తం చేస్తూ బాధితుల కొరకు ప్రార్ధన చేయాలనీ మా విసిటర్స్ ను కోరుతున్నాము.
SUPREME COURT TO EXAMINE QUOTA BENEFIT TO DALIT CONVERTS
The Supreme Court on Friday decided to examine the issue of extending reservation to Dalit Christians and Muslims under the category of Scheduled Castes, six years after the issue was brought up before it.
The Court sought the views of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities (NCRLM) saying important Constitutional issues arise from a bunch of petitions on the issue.
A Bench of Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia and Justices K.S. Radhakrishan and Swatanter Kumar also appointed senior advocate T.R. Andhyrujina as amicus curiae to assist the Court in the matter in which the petitions have been filed both in favour and against extending the benefit of reservation to Dalits who have converted to other faiths.
The Bench said some questions need to be examined on the issue in the context of the President’s Order of 1950 which identified the castes to be brought under the reservation policy and posted the matter for hearing on February 24.
It said the first question that is required to be examined is whether the “Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950”, which says that no person other than those who profess the religion of Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism will considered as Scheduled Castes is void and in violation of Article 14, 15, 19 and 25 of the Constitution.
The second question is whether a Scheduled Caste person belonging to religious faith other than Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism are entitled to the benefit of reservation. The third question that has to be answered is whether exclusion of other religions from “Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950” is valid or not.
The “Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950” lists 1,108 castes across 25 states in its first schedule which are benefited by reservation policy. During the last hearing, the Bench had termed the issue as “sensitive” and “important” and had said it might refer the matter for examination by a larger bench, if required.
It had said it would also examine the meaning of ‘caste’ in terms of Articles 16(4) and 15(4) of the Constitution which deal with reservation in state jobs and empowerment of socially and educationally backward classes and ensure that none of the interested groups is left out from being heard.
The bench had said it would bring the issue in public domain by putting it on the Supreme Court’s website. The Court was informed that during the previous hearings, the Centre had said it would study the report of a commission which examined the issue of granting Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians for extending benefits of reservation to them.
The Centre had said it would go through the report of the NCSC before presenting the Centre’s view on the issue. The NCSC has come out with its report after going through the recommendations of the NCRLM headed by former Chief Justice of India Rangnath Misra.
The petitioners submitted that the matter has been pending since 2004 and has sought an early hearing on the issue. The court had in January 2008 said there was no urgency in the matter as the Presidential order of 1950 has been challenged.
The Centre had in June 2007 maintained that the NCRLM in its report had found substance in the points raised for granting Scheduled Castes status to Dalits who have converted to Christianity.
The bench said the issue is sensitive as it would also have to see what would happen if religious conversion was due to extraneous reasons, that is, only to secure the benefits of reservation.
“That is why, we want to understand the meaning of caste. It is a very important issue and proper understanding of the meaning of caste is needed,” the bench had said. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation, which had first filed the petition on the issue, submitted if Dalits within Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism can be extended the benefit of reservation, there should be no reason why Dalits converted to other religions too should not be accorded the benefits.
He had said that despite adopting other religions like Christianity, Dalits continued to be saddled with same socio-economic disabilities. Solicitor-General Gopal Subramanium, who maintained that the government was examining the issue, had said Dalits converting to Islam have also sought reservation and were still carrying the same stigma.
There are petitions opposing the plea for granting reservation to Dalit Christians on the ground that there has been no concept of caste in Christianity. The PIL had said as reservation was available to Dalits in Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism, there was no reason why Dalit Christians should be deprived of the benefit.
The CPIL had contended that paragraph three of the President’s “Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950” was coming in the way of granting SC status to Dalit Christians. The NGO had submitted that it was the right time the court strikes down the order requiring all Dalits to belong to a particular religion if they were to avail the reservation benefits as it goes beyond the mandate of Article 341(1) and violates the fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution.
All India United Christians Movement for Equal Rights had said the Congress government had in 1996 brought a Bill in the Lok Sabha to amend para three of the “Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950” for extending reservation benefits to Dalit Christians. The CPIL had claimed that social standing of Dalits, even after converting to Christianity, has not changed and they have to face discrimination even in churches.
The NCRLM, which had prepared its report after visiting various states, had examined whether the SC converts suffer from social disabilities like untouchability even after embracing Christianity.
The demand for granting SC status to Dalit Christians has been opposed in several quarters, including the SC/ST Commission which contended that they cannot enjoy two rights — that is of minority and SCs.
The CPIL had contended that the earlier court rulings were given on the basis of scanty material and claimed the petitioners had “overwhelming” material to support their claim for reservation for Dalit Christians.
Citing a 2005 ruling of the Supreme Court, where it was said that even if a tribal converted to Christianity, he or she could still avail the reservation benefits as his/her status as ST remained unchanged, the CPIL had said the same law should be applicable to Dalits after their conversion.
The Court sought the views of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities (NCRLM) saying important Constitutional issues arise from a bunch of petitions on the issue.
A Bench of Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia and Justices K.S. Radhakrishan and Swatanter Kumar also appointed senior advocate T.R. Andhyrujina as amicus curiae to assist the Court in the matter in which the petitions have been filed both in favour and against extending the benefit of reservation to Dalits who have converted to other faiths.
The Bench said some questions need to be examined on the issue in the context of the President’s Order of 1950 which identified the castes to be brought under the reservation policy and posted the matter for hearing on February 24.
It said the first question that is required to be examined is whether the “Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950”, which says that no person other than those who profess the religion of Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism will considered as Scheduled Castes is void and in violation of Article 14, 15, 19 and 25 of the Constitution.
The second question is whether a Scheduled Caste person belonging to religious faith other than Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism are entitled to the benefit of reservation. The third question that has to be answered is whether exclusion of other religions from “Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950” is valid or not.
The “Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950” lists 1,108 castes across 25 states in its first schedule which are benefited by reservation policy. During the last hearing, the Bench had termed the issue as “sensitive” and “important” and had said it might refer the matter for examination by a larger bench, if required.
It had said it would also examine the meaning of ‘caste’ in terms of Articles 16(4) and 15(4) of the Constitution which deal with reservation in state jobs and empowerment of socially and educationally backward classes and ensure that none of the interested groups is left out from being heard.
The bench had said it would bring the issue in public domain by putting it on the Supreme Court’s website. The Court was informed that during the previous hearings, the Centre had said it would study the report of a commission which examined the issue of granting Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians for extending benefits of reservation to them.
The Centre had said it would go through the report of the NCSC before presenting the Centre’s view on the issue. The NCSC has come out with its report after going through the recommendations of the NCRLM headed by former Chief Justice of India Rangnath Misra.
The petitioners submitted that the matter has been pending since 2004 and has sought an early hearing on the issue. The court had in January 2008 said there was no urgency in the matter as the Presidential order of 1950 has been challenged.
The Centre had in June 2007 maintained that the NCRLM in its report had found substance in the points raised for granting Scheduled Castes status to Dalits who have converted to Christianity.
The bench said the issue is sensitive as it would also have to see what would happen if religious conversion was due to extraneous reasons, that is, only to secure the benefits of reservation.
“That is why, we want to understand the meaning of caste. It is a very important issue and proper understanding of the meaning of caste is needed,” the bench had said. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation, which had first filed the petition on the issue, submitted if Dalits within Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism can be extended the benefit of reservation, there should be no reason why Dalits converted to other religions too should not be accorded the benefits.
He had said that despite adopting other religions like Christianity, Dalits continued to be saddled with same socio-economic disabilities. Solicitor-General Gopal Subramanium, who maintained that the government was examining the issue, had said Dalits converting to Islam have also sought reservation and were still carrying the same stigma.
There are petitions opposing the plea for granting reservation to Dalit Christians on the ground that there has been no concept of caste in Christianity. The PIL had said as reservation was available to Dalits in Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism, there was no reason why Dalit Christians should be deprived of the benefit.
The CPIL had contended that paragraph three of the President’s “Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950” was coming in the way of granting SC status to Dalit Christians. The NGO had submitted that it was the right time the court strikes down the order requiring all Dalits to belong to a particular religion if they were to avail the reservation benefits as it goes beyond the mandate of Article 341(1) and violates the fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution.
All India United Christians Movement for Equal Rights had said the Congress government had in 1996 brought a Bill in the Lok Sabha to amend para three of the “Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950” for extending reservation benefits to Dalit Christians. The CPIL had claimed that social standing of Dalits, even after converting to Christianity, has not changed and they have to face discrimination even in churches.
The NCRLM, which had prepared its report after visiting various states, had examined whether the SC converts suffer from social disabilities like untouchability even after embracing Christianity.
The demand for granting SC status to Dalit Christians has been opposed in several quarters, including the SC/ST Commission which contended that they cannot enjoy two rights — that is of minority and SCs.
The CPIL had contended that the earlier court rulings were given on the basis of scanty material and claimed the petitioners had “overwhelming” material to support their claim for reservation for Dalit Christians.
Citing a 2005 ruling of the Supreme Court, where it was said that even if a tribal converted to Christianity, he or she could still avail the reservation benefits as his/her status as ST remained unchanged, the CPIL had said the same law should be applicable to Dalits after their conversion.
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