Chief Minister Vijay moves Supreme Court against HC verdict on BC Muslim status for converts

The Tamil Nadu government has approached the Supreme Court against a Madras High Court judgment that held a person who converts to Islam cannot automatically claim the status of a Backward Class Muslim for reservation benefits.

The appeal challenges a June 2026 verdict that struck down a 2024 state government order allowing eligible converts from Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes, Denotified Communities and Scheduled Castes to be treated as BC (Muslim) for reservations.

The High Court was hearing a petition filed by a Thoothukudi district resident who converted to Islam in 2015 and later sought a community certificate identifying him as 'Muslim Lebbai'.

His request was rejected by the local Tahsildar, prompting him to move the court.

While invalidating the government order, the High Court observed that a person's previous Hindu caste identity does not continue after conversion to Islam.

It also said Islam promotes an egalitarian social order and that classifying sections of the religion as backward or forward runs contrary to its core principles.

The State has now challenged that interpretation before the Supreme Court through a Special Leave Petition.

The original petitioner, along with the District Collector, Revenue Divisional Officer and Tahsildar, has been named as respondents. They have already filed caveats before the apex court.