Hindu Munnani has condemned organisations that, it said, are attributing ulterior motives to court verdicts and insulting judges. The statement comes in the wake of a recent order by Justice Swaminathan of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.
According to the organisation, courts have repeatedly held in various cases that religion-based reservation should not be permitted. It recalled that in 2007 the then DMK government issued a government order stating that those who converted from Hinduism to Islam could obtain a certificate as “Backward Class Muslims”.
Hindu Munnani argued that if converts continue to receive the same benefits and rights they had while being Hindus, it could encourage more conversions. It also questioned how it would be justified for those who claim Islam has no caste discrimination to seek a “Backward Class Muslim” certificate.
Citing these considerations, the group said the court ruled that a person who converts would be counted as a Muslim. It alleged that Islamic organisations held a protest on June 30 against the verdict, claiming their rights were affected, and that they insulted the judge who delivered the order.
The organisation urged the Tamil Nadu government not to allow protests that could disturb social harmony, and demanded legal action against those who, it said, criticised the verdict and disrespected the judge.
