Caste Certificate Issue
Dear Experts,
I reside in Kerala.My parents ancestrally belong to Latin Catholic community which comes under OBC. They used the reservation during their education.But after their marriage, they stopped attending the catholic church due to their personal reasons.They have not converted to any other religion.All the members of our family except my parents still attend the catholic church and make use of the reservation.
Because my parents stopped attending the catholic church ,I have not used the reservation since my birth.I do not attend any church owing to my atheist beliefs.In Kerala, it is mandatory to produce the bishop certificate in order to claim the reservation benefits.Since we have no allegiance to the Catholic church, no bishop would issue a certificate.I have all other proofs to indicate my catholic background including the caste certificate of my parents , their tenth standard mark book etc.Even my cousins still claim the reservation benefits.Recently, I applied for the caste certificate for the first time since my birth and my application got rejected only because of the reason that I could not produce the bishop certificate .
The supreme court has reiterated in a number of cases that a person can change his religion and faith but not the caste, to which he belongs, as caste has linkage to birth.In my case,neither my parents nor I have converted the religion.Still I am denied of my benefits.Please let me know what I can do in this case.
Thank you.