Supreme Court adjourns hearing on Dalit Christian issue

The state appointed National Commision for Religious and Linguistic Minorities led by Justice Ranganath Mishra has informed India's apex court that it is likely to submit its report on Dalit Christians' social, political, economic and educational conditions by September 2006.

The Commission, which has begun seeking public opinion on the status of Dalit Christians and Muslims and is holding discussions with various private and non–government agencies including academicians regarding the request to designate Scheduled Caste Hindu converts to Islam and Christianity as SCs, failed to submit its report before the due date of hearing by the Supreme Court of India on July 12.

As a result, the apex court has fixed the next date of hearing for October 2006.

According to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, NGOs and concerned people were requested to inform the Commission of their views.