The Tamil Nadu Government order seeking dismissal of Dalit employees on conversion to other religions (DV, Nov. 1) violates our fundamental Rights.
Here is a fit case for the Committee for Implementing Legal Aid Schemes, headed by Justice Bhagawati of the Supreme Court. How could a government be used to protect a religion? TN order amounts to a very serious violation of the Constitution and we call upon Dalits and their well-wishers to challenge this order by filing writs before the Bhagawati Committee, Address: No.3, Janpath, New Delhi-110003.
Meanwhile, a local Christian organisation has filed a writ through the Bhagawati Committee challenging the constitutional discrimination against non-Hindu Dalits. Experts are of the opinion that the Constitution is being used to protect Hinduism. Withdrawing reservations the moment a Dalit embraces a religion other than Hinduism means a threat to Dalits not to quit Hinduism. How can the Constitution of India be pro-Hindu? This issue and many other matters of interest to Dalits may be referred to P. D. Mathew, Legal Aid Cell, Indian Social Institute, Lodi Rd ., New Delhi-110 003.
