Madras high court directs issuance of 'no caste, no religion' certificate to actor, director R Parthiban

CHENNAI: Madras high court has directed issuance of 'no caste, no religion' certificate to actor and director R Parthiban. The actor moved the court pointing out delay caused by authorities refused to issue him such a certificate.

On Monday, allowing a plea moved by the actor, Justice M Dhandapaani directed the jurisdictional tahsildar to issue the certificate on or before April 29.

According to Parthiban, he applied for a 'no caste, no religion' certificate with the Sholinganallur tahsildar on March 20 which has been kept pending without any action. He submitted that he has studied up to Class XI under the old SSLC pattern and discontinued his studies thereafter without collecting any of his certificates.

"I don't have a birth certificate or school certificates, which disclose my religion and community. My parents belong to Hind Gavara community," he said.

He claimed that he had renounced his religious and caste identities after attaining majority. “As a leading film producer, director and actor, I have been advocating a religion-less and casteless society in all my films,” the petitioner said. Nevertheless, as a matter of routine and as per the administrative and admission culture I have obtained Gavara backward class certificates for my son and daughter," he said.

Since the children had now attained majority, they would also be free to profess any religion of their choice or even renounce their religious and caste identities, he added.

He further claimed that the caste system was unique to the Hindu religion and that it was not practised in any other religion, including Christianity, Islam, Buddhism or Sikhism.

He pointed out that a division bench of the court on June 10, 2025 had allowed a writ appeal filed by another litigant and called upon the state govt to positively entertain applications seeking the grant of ‘no caste, no religion’ certificates.