Madras HC Backs 'No Caste, No Religion' Certificates: A Landmark Step Towards Social Equality

Last month, the Madras High Court called upon the Tamil Nadu government to take steps to pass a government order to enable issuance of a ‘no caste, no religion’ certificate to those who file applications with revenue authorities seeking the same.

A bench of Justices MS Ramesh and N Senthilkumar made the suggestion while allowing an appeal filed by H. Santhosh of Tirupattur district against a single judge’s order refusing to direct the local tahsildar to issue a ‘no caste, no religion’ certificate to his family members.

Setting aside the single judge’s order, the bench directed the authorities to entertain the appellant’s applications and issue a ‘no caste, no religion’ certificate within a month.

“While the Constitution of India prohibits caste-based discrimination, caste and religion still play a significant role in social life, politics, education and employment through reservation policies,” the bench said.

Describing the appellant’s efforts to have himself and his family members certified by the government as not belonging to any caste or religion as “laudable”, the bench opined that this “would promote prohibition of caste-based discrimination” in the long run and be an “eye-opener” for like-minded citizens.

This example must be emulated by all the citizens of India. We're all humans, but, unfortunately, everywhere we've had to produce and show our borrowed identities, which don't define us; rather, they defile us. Religion and caste are the labels we love to flaunt, which ought to have been flouted long ago. Caste, class, creed, country and all that jazz are mere accidents of birth. Dividing people into rigid hierarchical orders based on birth and caste colonies creates an environment that stifles the collective well-being of a community.

The emphasis on one's caste identity suppresses the development of a shared sense of responsibility towards the public and erodes the motivation to work for the greater good. Consequently, the fundamental values of unity, empathy, and generosity are undermined as caste affiliations take precedence over the welfare of society as a whole.

In recognising the devastating impact of this system, there's an urgent need for the eradication of caste barriers to foster an inclusive and compassionate society. Caste entrenches societal divisions, suppresses free thought, and weakens public discussions. In societies governed by caste, individuals are inherently pigeonholed into predetermined social roles, essentially stifling their autonomy and individuality. As a result, the ability to form diverse and unbiased public opinions becomes severely compromised, as the dominant caste holds sway over power dynamics, social hierarchies, and the narratives that shape societal discourse. In essence, this serves as a stark reminder of the insidious influence of caste, which obstructs the formation of an inclusive and progressive public opinion.

In today's modern India, caste may appear to have mellowed down, but to quote Dr Ambedkar from his book, The Annihilation of Caste, “Caste has often changed its frame, but it has never lost its spirit.” This brings attention to the profound impact and deep-rooted nature of the caste system in society. While the physical manifestations of caste may have evolved over time, with new classifications and divisions emerging, the essence and belief in the superiority or inferiority of certain groups have remained ingrained within society. This reflects the resilience and enduring presence of caste, highlighting the need for sustained efforts to dismantle its oppressive structures and address the inherent inequalities it perpetuates. By dividing people into distinct groups and establishing a perceived superiority of one caste over another, caste annihilates the feeling of fraternity that is essential for a harmonious society. True fraternity encourages empathy, solidarity, and a sense of belonging among individuals, regardless of their backgrounds. However, caste-based divisions suppress such sentiments and hinder the development of a society where equality, cooperation, and camaraderie flourish.

Thus, there's an urgent need to challenge and eradicate caste-based prejudices in order to foster a society built upon genuine fraternity and inclusive principles. In a caste-based society, individuals are assigned a social position at birth, determining their rights, privileges, and even opportunities. Such social stratification based on birth is inherently unnatural, as it denies individuals the right to define their own worth and potential. Consequently, it has impeded the social progress and overall development of the country, and it is essential to acknowledge and confront this inequality in order to pave the way towards a more just and inclusive society. The deeply ingrained social hierarchy and discrimination perpetuated by caste divisions make it impossible to enact true and lasting change while operating within its framework. Until the caste system is eradicated, any reforms will be superficial and ineffective, as they will always be operating within a fundamentally flawed and oppressive system.

Religion also acts in the same oppressive manner the way caste does, though its malafide spirit may not be so obvious at first blush. Religion is a dogma, and dogmatism is a mindset that discourages skepticism, open-mindedness, and critical thinking, ultimately impeding the development of new ideas and solutions. By clinging to fixed doctrines and refusing to consider alternative perspectives, dogmatism restricts our ability to explore different paths or challenge established norms. It suppresses free thought, stifles creativity, and perpetuates the notion that one's own beliefs are the absolute truth, thereby limiting the evolution of societies and the minds within them.

To truly achieve progress, it is essential to embrace the principles of intellectual openness, flexibility, and the willingness to embrace diverse viewpoints. An evolved human needs to be called just a human sans his/her faith and caste. But have we evolved? Ironically, the government is hell-bent upon knowing the caste, even sub-castes, and religion of every citizen in the ensuing census. Will that help us by any means? Shouldn't the conscientious citizens of India resist and resent the whole shebang of religion and caste? These are indeed million-dollar questions.

Sumit Paul is a regular contributor to the world’s premier publications and portals in several languages.

Published on: Saturday, July 26, 2025, 01:32 PM IST