Tamil Nadu has challenged a Madras High Court ruling that denied Backward Class (Muslim) status to persons who convert to Islam. The dispute centres on a 2024 state government order that allowed persons from Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes, Denotified Communities or Scheduled Castes to obtain a Backward Class (Muslim) community certificate after conversion, but only if they belonged to one of seven sects: Ansar, Dekkani Muslims, Dubekula, Labbais, Mapilla, Sheik and Syed.
On June 24, the High Court struck down the order. It held that a person who converts to Islam cannot claim the status of a Backward Class Muslim and said the person is only a Muslim. The case arose from a plea by a 33-year-old man from Thoothukudi district who was born Hindu, converted to Islam in 2015, changed his name and married as per Islamic traditions. He applied for a certificate identifying him as Muslim Lebbai, but the tehsildar rejected it.
The state defended the 2024 order by saying it was based on a recommendation of the state Backward Classes Commission and that only persons already eligible for reservation before conversion would continue to receive benefits. The High Court rejected this defence and said a government order could not undo the legal position.