SC Flags "New Fraud": Upper Caste Hindus Claiming Minority Status via Conversion in Haryana

• The Supreme Court expressed concern over upper-caste individuals in Haryana converting to Buddhism to claim minority reservation benefits, terming it a "new type of fraud."
• The court sought a report from the Haryana Chief Secretary on the guidelines for granting minority certificates.
• The case involved Nikhil Kumar Punia, a resident of Hisar, seeking admission as a minority candidate based on claimed Buddhist faith.
• Chief Justice Surya Kant questioned Punia's Jaat Punia community background and how he could claim minority status despite conversion.
• The bench dismissed Punia's plea but will further consider the state's procedures for issuing minority certificates after the Chief Secretary's response.

Why It Matters: Supreme Court raises alarm over fraudulent minority certificate claims by upper-caste converts in Haryana.