NEW DELHI, Dec. 12 -- Delisting is a demand from certain sections of the Hindus to remove the converted indigenous people to Christianity and Islam from the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs). Those who support the demand say that the tribals who have converted cease to be Scheduled Tribes. But the Supreme Court judgment says, "By reason of conversion, a tribe does not cease to be tribe." (SC Case 429 (240), 2004 AIR SCW1064) Article 342 of the Indian Constitution specifies the tribes or tribal communities {read with 366(25)}. The issue is attracting media coverage, especially in the local media.

Why delisting? The main controversy over the issue is reservation and its benefits being given to the converted tribal Christians. The Constitution...