Andhra pastor loses SC status as Bapatla collector suspends his caste certificate

Guntur: Bapatla district collector Dr V Vinod Kumar has cancelled the Scheduled Caste (SC) community certificate issued to pastor Chintada Anand after concluding that he was practising Christianity and was, therefore, not eligible for SC status under existing constitutional provisions.The district administration also issued a gazette notification confirming the cancellation of the caste certificate. The district collector said the decision was taken following a two-level inquiry. Initially, the district-level scrutiny committee (DLSC) headed by joint collector Bhavana conducted the inquiry by hearing both sides of the argument.The cancellation comes in the backdrop of an order by the AP high court that ruled that SCs will lose their scheduled caste status once they convert to other religions. The Supreme Court upheld the HC order. This is the first SC certificate cancellation in AP after the recent legal developments.Earlier, the district scrutiny committee examined records and other material before concluding that Anand was practising Christianity as a pastor. Based on the committee’s recommendations, the collector earlier issued notices asking Anand to explain why his SC certificate should not be cancelled. Pastor Anand argued that he had only changed his faith of belief to Christianity not community. He appealed to the district collector not to suspend his caste certificate. “We have cancelled SC certificate issued to Chintada Anand,” confirmed the district collector.The controversy dates back to a dispute in Kothapalem village of Pittalavanipalem mandal in Bapatla district where local BJP activist Akkala Ramireddy approached authorities and later the high court seeking cancellation of Anand’s SC certificate, alleging that despite embracing Christianity and functioning as a pastor, Anand continued to claim SC status and benefits. Ramireddy approached the HC following a case under SC, STs (prevention of atrocities) Act was booked against him and five others based on Anand’s complaint in connection with a land dispute in 2022.The HC recently ruled in favour of Ramireddy and quashed the case booked under SC, ST Act. Subsequently, Anand approached Supreme Court, which had also struck down his contention. SC made it clear that no practicing Christian could avail of protection as SC.Armed with SC verdict, Ramireddy approached the district administration seeking cancellation of Anand’s SC certificate. After detailed process and the final hearing held recently, the district collector issued orders cancelling the SC certificate of Anand.“In view of the recommendations of the district level scrutiny committee (DLSC), Bapatla, and in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 5 of the Andhra Pradesh (Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes) Regulation of Issue of Community Certificates Act, 1993, r/w Rule 9(7) of the Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes, the Scheduled Caste Certificate issued in favour of Chintada Anand are hereby cancelled with immediate effect,” said the district collector in the gazette notification.Sources said Anand has been given an opportunity to file an appeal against the collector’s decision before the state level authority.Assembly deputy speaker K Raghurama Krishnam Raju has been demanding that SC reservation facility to all those going to church should be cancelled without any delay.He said that allowing practising Christians to enjoy the benefits as SCs is depriving the actual poor SCs. However, Anand said that he would continue his fight against the cancellation at an appropriate forum. “I was born into an SC family, which can’t be altered. I have only changed my faith. Cancellation of SC certificate is arbitrary and unjust,” said pastor Anand.