India, Jan. 29 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday voiced concern over a "new type of fraud" involving individuals from dominant upper-caste backgrounds in Haryana converting to Buddhism solely to claim minority reservation benefits. The Supreme Court sought a report from the chief secretary of Haryana as to how minority certificates are being granted and issued in the State.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing a petition filed by one Nikhil Kumar Punia, a resident of Hisar in Haryana, who was seeking admission as a minority candidate on the basis of his claimed Buddhist faith.

During the hearing, the CJI, who also hails from the same place, questioned Punia's social background. "You are a P...