IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR THURSDAY, THE 29TH MAY 2008 / 8TH JYAISHTA 1930 WP(C).No. 29734 of 2004(M) -------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ P.J.SIJO, PULLIYAMMACKAL HOUSE, VADATTUPARA,CHACKIMEDUKARA, KUTTAMPUZHA, KOTHAMANGALAM. BY ADV. SRI.S.M.PREM SMT.K.P.SANTHI RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. CONTROLLER OF EXAMINATIONS, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. THE SUPERINTENDENT, GOVERNMENT PRESS, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 4. THE TAHSILDAR, MEENACHAL. 5. THE TAHSILDAR, DEVIKULAM. BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SMT.SMITHA SUKUMARAN THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 29/05/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS: P1: TRUE COPY OF CERTIFICATE DT.23.2.2004 ISSUED BY THE TAHSILDAR, KOTHAMANGALAM. P2: TRUE COPY OF LETTER DT.13.8.1992 OF THE HEADMISTRESS, GOVERNMENT HIGH SCHOOL, POIKA TO THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, THODUPUZHA. P3: TRUE COPY OF RELEVANT PAGE OF THE SSLC BOOK OF THE PETITIONER. P4: TRUE COPY OF LETTER OF THE CHARGE OFFICER AND SUB COLLECTOR, TALUK SABHA, DEVIKULAM TO R2. P5: TRUE COPY OF REPORT SUBMITTED BY TAHSILDAR, MEENACHAL TO THE TAHSILDAR, DEVIKULAM. P6: TRUE COPY OF CERTIFICATE DT.11.7.2002 OF THE VICAR, C.S.I. CHRIST CATHEDRAL, MELUKAVU. P7: TRUE COPY OF APPLICATION DT.13.5.2004 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER TO R3. TRUE COPY PA TO JUDGE C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR, J. .................................................................... W.P.(C) No.29734 of 2004 .................................................................... Dated this the 29th day of May, 2008. JUDGMENT The W.P. is filed for direction to respondents to declare the petitioner as a member of the Scheduled Tribe community. Consequential relief sought is for changing the name of his community in the official records as Scheduled Tribe in the place of Christian (RCSC) shown therein. On the basis of documents produced by the petitioner such as certificate issued by the Church, Tahsildar etc., it is clear that four generations back petitioner's forefathers converted to Christians and are convert Christians. The petitioner has not stated how a convert Christian can be declared as a Scheduled Tribe. However, a convert from Scheduled Caste to Christianity can be given the status of "Other Eligible Community(OEC)". It is not known whether this applies to converts from Scheduled Tribes also. In any case the W.P. is disposed of directing the 5th respondent to consider petitioner's claim and pass orders thereon. The petitioner will produce copy of this judgment and documents in support of his claim of conversion from Scheduled Tribe to Christianity. C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR Judge pms