US EditionSupreme Court Probes Minority Fraud via Buddhism Conversion
The Supreme Court directed Haryana to report on minority certificate guidelines after questioning if upper-caste converts improperly claimed admissions under religious minority quotas.
- On Wednesday, the Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant asked the Haryana chief secretary for details on two upper-caste candidates seeking admission under the Buddhist minority quota and dismissed their immediate plea.
- When the bench reviewed application records, it found earlier general-category declarations in NEET-PG 2025 where candidates denied Economically Weaker Sections status, prompting probe into later minority claims.
- During the hearing, petitioners produced SDO-issued certificates asserting Buddhist membership while the court noted their Punia caste and that counsel described them as Jats at Subharti Medical College, a Buddhist minority institution granted status in 2018.
- The court ordered scrutiny of SDO certificate procedures and asked the Haryana government to explain practices, noting the state report will examine if general-category candidates can claim minority status after conversion.
- The bench framed the issue as an alleged fraud against bona fide minorities, describing it as a `new type of fraud` and Chief Justice of India Surya Kant warned applicants risk `snatch the rights of some genuine bona fide minority.
12 Articles
12 Articles
“Another Way Of Fraud”: Supreme Court Cracks Down On General Castes Converting To Buddhism For Quota Claims
The Supreme Court on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, raised serious concerns over what it described as a possible attempt by two general caste candidates to misuse the Buddhist minority quota to secure admission to postgraduate medical courses. A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing a writ petition filed by two candidates from Haryana seeking admission under the Buddhist minority quota to a postgra…
Times of India
The Economic TimesSC flags ‘new type of fraud’ in minority reservation claims by upper-caste converts in Haryana
The Supreme Court is investigating a new trend in Haryana where individuals from dominant upper castes are reportedly converting to Buddhism. This is done to claim benefits reserved for minority communities. The court has asked the Haryana Chief Secretary for a report. This report will detail the guidelines for issuing minority certificates.
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