Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: The Supreme Court has sought a report within two weeks from the Haryana government on the controversial case where two general category candidates, Nikhil Kumar Poonia and Ekta, allegedly converted to Buddhism to claim admission under the minority Buddhist quota in NEET-PG. The court labeled the act as a form of fraud intended to usurp rights meant for minority communities.
Candidates Claim Religious Conversion
The petitioners approached the Supreme Court requesting admission under the Buddhist quota at Subharti Medical College, Uttar Pradesh. They submitted that they had converted to Buddhism and received certification from a sub-divisional officer. The case was heard by a bench comprising Chief Justice Suryakant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.
Court Questions Validity of Minority Status
During the hearing, the Chief Justice questioned the caste background of Nikhil Poonia, noting that he belonged to the Jat community. The bench questioned how a Jat could be considered a minority. The petitioner responded by stating that he had genuinely converted to Buddhism, to which the Chief Justice sharply retorted that such practices were fraudulent and amounted to snatching away rights of truly disadvantaged minorities.
SC Warns Against Misuse of Conversion
The Chief Justice remarked that people from wealthy and dominant castes were misusing religious conversion to claim benefits, rather than relying on merit. He warned that such actions could lead to widespread abuse and emphasized that the petitioners had previously identified as general category in the NEET-PG application.
Govt Asked to Explain Criteria for Minority Certification
The court directed Haryana’s Chief Secretary to submit a detailed report within two weeks outlining the guidelines for issuing minority certificates, and whether a person who identified as general category in NEET-PG can subsequently avail benefits under the Buddhist minority quota. The court also sought clarification on what grounds the SDO issued such a certificate in this case.
