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Commission chairperson addresses discrimination, welfare data, certificates and legal protections for marginalised citizens.
National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Chairperson Kishor Makwana, in an exclusive interview with Read, said that the ‘purification’ incident was politically motivated and that the Commission found no evidence of caste-based discrimination. He also spoke at length on a range of issues concerning Scheduled Castes, including constitutional safeguards, social justice, caste-based discrimination and the challenges facing the community.
Q. As Chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, will you seek a detailed report from the Uttarakhand government on the issue (Purification row), and what action do you expect from the state authorities?
A. Our mandate is to monitor the constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Castes and take cognizance of any violation of their rights, including caste-based discrimination, humiliation, exclusion or attacks on dignity, through an impartial and sensitive inquiry. In the present case, after examining the available facts and circumstances, we found no evidence to suggest that the incident was rooted in caste-based discrimination. Instead, we found that the matter was politically motivated. Neither the statements nor the material examined by us indicated any caste-based malice. We found that the issue was different from how it was subsequently portrayed, and attempts to give it a political colour could affect the atmosphere of social equality, harmony and fraternity.
Q. What is your position on the demand for a caste census? Do you believe a caste census is necessary to ensure better targeting of welfare schemes and reservation policies?
A. On the issue of a castebased census, I would say that it is a broader policy matter that falls within the jurisdiction of the government and the competent authorities. Our focus at the Commission is to ensure that accurate data on the social, educational and economic status of Scheduled Castes are available. Such data can help in objectively assessing welfare schemes, representation, reservation and the implementation of other constitutional safeguards. I believe this issue should not be viewed merely as a political debate but also from the perspective of data quality and social justice. I welcome the government’s decision to collect castebased data in the census, noting that such data are being collected for the first time since 1931. This exercise can help strengthen efforts o safeguard the rights and interests of marginalised communities and ensure more effective delivery of social justice.
Q. Is discrimination against Scheduled Castes actually declining in India, or has it merely taken newer and less visible forms? Is the Commission satisfied with the investigation and conviction rates in crimes against Scheduled Castes? Where do you believe the criminal justice system is falling short?
A. I acknowledge that the status of Scheduled Castes has improved significantly across various sectors due to constitutional safeguards, legislation, education, representation, social awareness and government welfare measures. There has been considerable economic and educational empowerment. However, I would not say that caste-based discrimination has been completely eradicated. Social change is a long-term process, and discrimination can take different forms over time.
We must therefore remain alert to both direct and indirect forms of discrimination that may affect equal opportunity and dignity. Our goal is clear: no citizen belonging to a Scheduled Caste should ever feel that their social identity is a barrier to justice. The protections guaranteed by the Constitution and the law must go beyond being merely provisions on paper and translate into the lived experience of every victim. We must continue strengthening social equality, harmony and fraternity.
Q. There have been increasing concerns over the alleged misuse of fake caste certificates to avail reservation benefits. How is the Commission addressing this issue, and what measures are needed to prevent genuine beneficiaries from being deprived of their rights?
A. Yes, this is a matter of serious concern for us at the Commission. Fake caste certificates are not merely an administrative irregularity; they are an issue of social justice and affect the credibility of constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Castes. When someone fraudulently obtains an SC certificate to avail reservation or other benefits, it directly affects those who are genuinely entitled to these protections.
We have taken this issue seriously and discussed it in detail in the Full Commission meeting. We are examining comprehensive recommendations to curb the misuse of fake caste certificates and strengthen the verification process, which will be submitted to the appropriate authorities. I believe the solution needs to be multi-dimensional. The issuance and verification of caste certificates should be transparent, time-bound and technologically robust.
Where a fake certificate is established, appropriate action must be taken under the law. At the same time, genuine members of the Scheduled Caste community should not face unnecessary harassment or repeated verification. Our objective is not to cast suspicion on any particular group, but to ensure that constitutional benefits meant for Scheduled Castes reach those who are genuinely eligible. Protecting the credibility of the social justice framework requires both preventing misuse and safeguarding the rights of eligible citizens.
Q. Since 2018, cases filed under SC/ST Act have increased by almost 20 percent. How does he see it, also is there a need to ensure safeguard to stop the Act being misused to settle personal disputes?
A. The SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act is an important legislation that provides protection against specific forms of caste-based crimes and atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. I believe an increase in registered cases, by itself, cannot be taken as conclusive evidence of either a rise in atrocities or misuse of the law. There can be several reasons behind such an increase, including greater awareness among victims, improved access to the legal system, better government responsiveness, or cases that were previously going unreported. Therefore, the statistics need to be examined in their proper context. Our approach is balanced. The law should neither be misused nor should concerns about its misuse weaken the constitutional and legal protections available to genuine victims. Our objective is to ensure that every complaint is investigated impartially, that no innocent person faces injustice, and that genuine victims from Scheduled Castes receive the protection and justice guaranteed to them under the law.