SC allows SC certificate via mother's caste; CJI Surya Kant questions tradition

• Supreme Court approved issuing a Scheduled Caste (SC) certificate to a minor girl based on her mother's "Adi Dravida" caste, overturning a traditional rule.
• This decision, led by CJI Surya Kant, has significant implications, challenging the long-standing practice of determining a child's caste solely by the father.
• The SC bench refused to challenge a Madras High Court order, emphasizing the girl's future if the certificate isn't issued promptly.
• CJI Surya Kant questioned why caste certificates can't be based on the mother's caste, signaling a potential shift in social and legal norms.
• The ruling could allow children of SC mothers and upper-caste fathers to receive SC certificates, though major legal questions remain open for future determination.

Why It Matters: SC allows mother's caste for certificates, challenging traditional caste determination.