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The Delhi High Court today issued notice on a plea seeking directions to stall the use of the word “Kanjar” for the people belonging to the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe while issuing them caste certificates as the same is derogatory and violative of the mandate of the Constitution and other laws.

The division bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh while issuing notice listed the matter for next hearing in August.

The petition has been filed by Akhil Bharatiya Gihara Samaj Jagriti Parishad through Advocates Parag Chawla and Sudeep Sudan challenging the arbitrary and capricious action of the government in mentioning the word “Kanjar” for the people of SC and ST while issuing caste certificates to them. As a matter of fact the community is known as “Gihara” which is a recognised Scheduled Caste and as such the government should not have any objection in issuing the caste certificate mentioning the word “Gihara” instead of “Kanjar” .

The petitioner has further submitted that the society had made several representations before the concerned authority but no corrective action has been taken till date.

The petitioner has further pointed out that the High Court had earlier in an order dated July 27, 2011 had directed that the word “Chura” shall be appositely substituted and the word “Balmiki” shall be mentioned in the Caste Certificate.

It has thus been submitted that the word “Kanjar” is derogatory and if used the same will humiliate the very existence of being a human and against the principle of equality and respect enshrined in the constitution of India.

Case Title: Akhil Bharatiya Gihara Samaj Jagriti Parishad vs Union of India