The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court recently observed that a person having a photograph of Jesus Christ in her house would not strictly mean that she has converted to Christianity.
The Court made this observation while allowing a petition challenging a district caste scrutiny committee’s rejection of a minor girl’s claim that she belonged to the ‘Mahar’ caste. The committee arrived at its decision after its vigilance cell found a photograph of Jesus Christ in the girl’s house during a visit.
The High Court, however, opined that merely having a photograph of Jesus in one’s house would not imply that the person has converted to Christianity.
The Court also noted that the traditional occupation of the petitioner and her family was labour work. Further, the Court was also told that marriages in the family were performed as per Buddhist rituals.
In view of these aspects, the Court refused to accept the vigilance cell report and directed the caste scrutiny committee to issue a caste validity certificate to the petitioner, certifying that she belonged to the ‘Mahar’ caste.
This case is a reminder that religious freedom is a fundamental right under the Indian Constitution. It is also a reminder that people should not be discriminated against on the basis of their religion.
