Issue BC certificates to converted Muslims: Madras HC

The woman, who had married one Basker, had after his death converted to Islam as Labbai Muslim in 2006 and changed her name from Visalakshi to M S Barveen Rifana. Later she married one Y Mohammed Saathick and got a community certificate issued by the Zonal Deputy Tahsildar, Tuticorin, and thereafter changed her name to MU.Aariffa.

She had applied for the post of VAO through TNPSC in 2010 and took the exams but when the results were declared her name was in the rejection list.

When she sought the reason, the TNPSC said 'because of the conversion she is treated as ‘others' that is forward community and her application itself was rejected, since she did not pay the examination fee treating herself as Backward class.'

She filed a petition challenging it and the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court passed an interim order to reserve one post of VAO vacant until further orders.

TNPSC rejected another application of her also citing the same reason.