The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has initiated an inquiry into the religious and cultural status of a Member of Parliament Vijay Kumar Hansda, following a complaint filed by Sewa Nyaya’s SC/ST Cell. Hansda represents the Rajmahal Lok Sabha constituency in Jharkhand. He is a member of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) elected from the Scheduled Tribe (ST)-reserved Rajmahal constituency in Jharkhand,
The development was announced by Sewa Nyaya founder Swati Goel Sharma, who said the complaint alleged that the MP had married according to Christian rites at St. Paul’s Cathedral Church in Ranchi. According to the complaint, the adoption of institutional Christian practices indicated conversion and abandonment of traditional tribal customs, including the Sarna faith.
Sewa Nyaya argued that such a change, if established, would be contrary to the constitutional intent behind Scheduled Tribe reservations and could compromise the political representation of indigenous tribal communities that continue to follow their traditional faith and customs.
The organization had sought the intervention of the NHRC to initiate an inquiry into the MP’s religious and cultural status and to recommend appropriate action to the Election Commission of India, if warranted.
According to Sharma, NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo has taken cognizance of the complaint and initiated an inquiry. She further stated that the Commission has made the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment parties to the proceedings.
The development comes amid an ongoing debate over the demand for the delisting of individuals from Scheduled Tribe status following religious conversion. The issue has remained a subject of legal, constitutional, and political discussion, particularly in relation to the eligibility of converted individuals to continue availing reservation benefits meant for Scheduled Tribes.
IMPORTANT
Through our SC/ST cell at @sewanyaya, we raised a complaint against an MP, who married under Christian rituals at St Paul’s Cathedral Church, Ranchi, Jharkhand, despite being elected from Scheduled Tribe-reserved Rajmahal constituency
Our complaint said that adopting… pic.twitter.com/xgtqFEkSUf
— Swati Goel Sharma (@swati_gs) July 28, 2026
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